Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members have a responsibility to protect the image of the force and to "whistle blow" on cases of corruption, says Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The Deputy President was delivering the keynote address at a conference on Tuesday, organised by the SANDF on the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM).

The MRM is a longstanding national campaign that falls within the purview of her office.

"It is everyone's duty to protect the image of the force, to whistle blow and if you do not, you become part of the problem. Members must be trustworthy," Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said.

"We must respond to whistle blowers by making necessary follow ups to issues they raise until they reach their logical conclusions."

She added that it was imperative for a Moral Regeneration programme to be implanted in government departments "to build the character of our people through positive values."

Key members of the MRM were present at the conference, including its chairperson, former Tshwane Executive mayor, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, as well as a number of prominent academics and religious figures from all religious communities in South Africa.

The Chaplain-general of the Department of Defence, Brigadier-General Marius Cornelissen, as head of the Chaplain Service which represents a cross-section of religious communities in South Africa, presented a background to the conference, which was opened by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mluleki George.

The Deputy President extended the responsibility of guarding against corruption to all civil servants, adding that it was also unacceptable for them to perform as they deliver services the poor can claim as a constitutional right.

Corruption, she added, occupies an even higher level of immorality, especially when committed by civil servants on whom the poor rely heavily to provide the services vital to an improved life.

"So officials who steal from feeding schemes or give sub-standard service, especially the poor, cross the line of decency.

"There is a moral crisis when officials forge documents in order to access money earmarked for Child Support Grants when they do not qualify to do so," the Deputy President said.

The work of the state in poverty alleviation and protecting the most vulnerable in society is morally correct, she said, but at the same time she warned that the extent to which people have reached for security through applying for government grants is "not sustainable".

Beneficiaries of social grants in South Africa have increased from 2,6 million in 1994 to 9,7 million by June 2005, she said. By April 2005, over 5,6 million children were receiving social grants, with about 4,2 million receiving the Child Support Grant.

An additional R19 billion was allocated for the 2005/06 financial year period for the extension of the Child Support Grant to children under the age of 14 years, she said.

"However, this trend is not sustainable,"she warned, adding that while government must make an "unconditional commitment to pensioners and categories of disabled people, for others we must facilitate an exit to economically sustainable activities".

South Africans, she said, "have a shared moral responsibility to share wealth".

Another important element in the moral regeneration of the country is the National Youth Service, which needs to "touch base" with as many as two million young people in South Africa.

The MRM has produced a draft Charter of Positive Values to guide its work.

This encompassed respect for human dignity and equality; promoting freedom, the rule of law and democracy, improving the material well being of the majority and economic justice and enhancing family and community values.

The charter also highlighted upholding loyalty, honesty and integrity, ensuring harmony in culture belief and conscience, showing respect and concern for all people and striving for justice, fairness and peaceful co-existence.