President Jacob Zuma says he has established the Anti-corruption Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) and Task Team to implement comprehensive strategies that will root out corruption in the country.

The President said this on Monday in written reply to Parliamentary questions. He said government has made fighting corruption one of its key priorities.

“This is reflected in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework, which has the reduction of corruption in the private and public sectors as one of the critical goals for the next five years. To meet this goal, we are implementing one of the most comprehensive anti-corruption strategies in the world.

“I have established the Anti-corruption IMC, which is chaired by the Minister in the Presidency and comprises various Ministers. The aim of the IMC is to lead and oversee our government’s efforts aimed at combating corruption,” said the President.

He said the IMC is supported by the Anti-Corruption Task Team, which has a vast network of government agencies dedicated to fighting corruption.

These agencies include the Financial Intelligence Centre, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), Special Investigative Unit, National Prosecuting Agency (especially the Asset Forfeiture Unit), Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Public Service Commission, Department of Public Service and Administration and other State security agencies.

“All these agencies have been asked to pool their intellectual, financial, investigative and other forms of resources in order to deal comprehensively with the scourge of corruption in the public and private sectors,” said Zuma.

Each of these agencies has also been asked to bring its specialist know-how and experience to this comprehensive effort at combating corruption.

“For the first time in our history, I signed tens of proclamations mandating the Special Investigative Unit to investigate incidents of corruption.

“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the NPA is seizing more assets associated with or accumulated through criminal activity than ever before. We have established the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer to focus state procurement processes,” the President said.

He said the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer will address the weakness in the State procurement processes that have been exploited in order to commit corruption.

Government has committed itself through the Medium-Term Strategic Framework to review legislation that deals with corruption in order to ensure that all laws in this area are strengthened, so that government can effectively wage a war against corruption.

“These comprehensive measures have begun to bear some fruit. Currently 945 persons are being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Task Team, 228 of them are officials or ex-officials. Out of this figure, 23 senior officials are being prosecuted,” Zuma said.