Business and Corruption

Corruption and the impact it has on the quality of life of every person in this country is a burning issue with South Africans. In the same breath, you hear that Business with a capital B is also part of the corruption. Collusion happens between individuals, and Business is but the vehicle used by them to commit these acts.

A company has to make a conscious decision on how it operates, how it tenders and how it builds relationships within the economy. It is in the best interest of a company’s future to have strict checks and balances in place. That is the only way to prevent an environment where exploitation of the system would have the opportunity to blossom. How many reputable companies have recently been exposed to corruption by an employee or a group of employees?

Management of a business has a policy on how to prevent criminal activities, and often act swiftly to deal with these actions. But it is unfair to say Business is corrupting a government official. It is people deciding to exploit the situation, regardless of whom they harm. People must be held publicly accountable for their actions. It is a decision of the auditing authority of the government not to act when they notice waste full and irregular expenditure. The Tender Committees decide to grant tenders to companies that cannot meet the tender requirements. And so on.

Zero tolerance should be the mantra of any Business and Government Department. But in the end, you decide if it is your right to abuse the system, or your responsibility to offer the best and honest service.