Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal government's fight against fraud and corruption is well on track, with more than 1 000 civil servants currently subject to disciplinary action on various charges.
Premier Zweli Mkhize told the provincial cabinet on Wednesday that more than R3 million is being recovered from public servants who received social grants illegally.
Mkhize, in his State of the Province Address in February, detailed a range of initiatives to rid the government of corruption.
Among these was the appointment of retired Judge President Vuka Tshabalala to preside over some of the disciplinary cases involving senior civil servants.
There are 198 charges of fraud and theft alone. Social grant misconduct cases amount to 360, while 101 civil servants have been charged for the misuse of state property.
Other cases include insubordination (74); absenteeism (112); sexual harassment (28); under influence of alcohol/drugs (25) and assault (33).
A further 198 civil servants were facing misconduct charges relating to misrepresentation, negligence and abusive language.
Mkhize told the cabinet that there had been seven criminal prosecutions; one was a civil matter and 72 civil servants have been suspended.
For the financial year April 2010 to March 2011, 787 public servants had signed acknowledgements of debt to the value of R3 010 290 with the Special Investigating Unit.
"When we assumed office, we made a very clear commitment to clean governance. We said we would ensure that every cent from the public purse went towards the delivery of services to our people.
"In the State of the Province Address, we announced additional measures to help speed up the conclusion of some of the disciplinary cases.
"We are extremely pleased that this is bearing tangible outcomes as we recover stolen money and remove rotten elements from our public service. We are determined to win this war," said Mkhize.
