Cape Town - An achievement of government priorities will to a considerable degree depend on a clean administration of affairs within state organs, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said on Sunday.
The police cannot effectively fight crime when some of its "components" and members are themselves involved in criminal activities, he said at a media briefing conducted by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster.
At least 119 police officers and staff members were dismissed in the current financial year following sweeping investigations on fraud and corruption within the service.
The dismissals were among a trail of cases involving public servants caught defrauding the State in recent years. The Special Investigations Unit, as revealed by President Jacob Zuma in the State of the Nation Address, has also been mandated to probe graft cases involving government employees.
On Sunday Radebe said "clean-up operations within the South African Police Service and the cluster will continue unabated.
"A corruption baseline report indicating information on cases of corruption with the JCPS Cluster is being developed. The report will bear testimony to our resolve that government is serious about fighting corruption even within its own ranks, he said".
He said a number of officials were also arrested in the Home Affairs Department in December on allegations of fraudulent activities including their involvement in the production of Identity Documents (ID's) and passports.
"This attests to the zeal and determination with which the cluster intends to rid itself of corrupt elements in the interests of national security."
Research shows that government loses billions of rands each year in state coffers due to corruption. Through its delivery agreement, the cluster has undertaken to ensure prosecution of at least 100 people by 2014 who have accumulated assets of at least R5 million through illicit means.
Authorities further seized assets valued to more than R108 million in the first six months of 2010. Officials admit that economic development and job creation cannot be realised without investor confidence and the sense of security in the country.
"Our fight against all forms of crime including corruption creates a conducive environment for the pursuit of other identified government priorities...we are confident that the implementation of the plan we have in place will improve investor confidence in our economy which will lead to more investments and more jobs," said Radebe.
