By Jane Steinacker
Every day the media publishes reports on tender corruption and fraud. Yet government is still sitting on its expensive leather seats.
Government tenders for the most part are meant to provide services to communities who need them: healthcare for children, books for schools and infrastructure that will help our country succeed.
Every time a tenderpreneur knocks back a glass of expensive whisky, a child dies because the money that is meant to go to healthcare is paying for his black luxury car.
Shacks are burning and people are freezing to death as the money for their housing is, instead, paying for fake Tuscan villas in expensive areas.
Parents aren't able to clothe and educate their children as corrupt officials spend money on bespoke outfits with tasteless hats.
Just last Sunday it was reported that the list under the Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, monitored by the National Treasury, which is meant to blacklist corrupt tenderpreneurs, is still blank.
But we know for a fact that there are thousands of examples which show that millions of rands are being stolen.
Why are these companies not on the list?
Why are these companies still being awarded tenders? And why are the corrupt government officials still going to work every day?
According to a published report, treasury spokesman Lindani Mbunyanza says that it's up to the courts to issue an order for the convicted to be placed on the register.
"To date, no such order has been issued by any court," says Mbunyanza.
This means that contractors and government officials are still skimming the cream off deals and an effective manner in which to deal with this is not in sight.
I would like to know why not.
And while this legislation is not being abided with, government has decided to try a new tack by setting up task teams to fight corruption.
But my pessimistic self has no faith in new measures - nobody has bothered to try implementing the old ones.
There is a part of me that believes that these task teams are simply a deflection strategy to keep South Africans happy under the illusion that our elected leaders are, in fact, doing something.
My inner-voice says it's because corruption and a sense of entitlement at the expense of others comes from the top of our food chain.
A fish rots from the head.
It is distressing that every week there is at least one new report of tender corruption.
I am tired of hearing about task teams checking procurement policies to tighten loopholes, or sub-committees reviewing reports. What I'd like to hear is the cuffing of the criminals as they are brought to justice and the slamming of doors as their unlawful businesses are shut to make way for the reputable and honest contractors I believe are out there.
Businesses that will truly benefit from transformation and who will do their bit to improve the lives of South Africans do exist.
What I want is less talk and more action.
I hope that my pessimism in our leadership turns to optimism and that corrupt officials and companies are dealt with.
Our government needs to stop with the myriad of task teams and start producing results.
There are lives at stake here.
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