Public sector corruption has come under the spotlight in recent years, and President Jacob Zuma says the current government will work to reduce it.

“The Special Investigating Unit, the Anti-Corruption Task Team the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the Hawks, have made notable progress in our quest to combat corruption in society broadly and in the public sector,” he says. “This work will continue in the next five years.

“Weaknesses in procurement, management and operations systems that undermine the efficiency and effectiveness of government will be addressed.”

One of the key steps, which he points out is already underway, is to centralise procurement under the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer in the National Treasury.

“We have begun piloting this new approach with the centralised procurement of school furniture in the Eastern Cape. The furniture will be delivered in all Eastern Cape schools by the middle of August 2014.

“Measures will be introduced to prevent public servants and public representatives from doing business with the state.

“These will be supported by improved implementation of the Financial Disclosure Framework, strengthened protection of whistle-blowers, and the provision of technical assistance to departments for the effective management of discipline.”