Morongwa & Letsika - Moving DID’s Ethical Governance to the Apex

The Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has congratulated our Assistant Director,?Ethics Integrity Management,?Morongwa Mushoma and Deputy Director, Ethics Management and Investigations, Letsika Mokoena?on completing the Ethics Officer Certification Programme (EOCP) conducted by The Ethics Institute (TEI) in partnership with the University of Stellenbosch. Morongwa and Letsika were nominated to participate in this programme by the Office of the Premier (OoP) earlier this year.?

According to Letsika, “The EOCP enlightened me on how to institutionalise ethics within the Department including how to conduct an Ethics Risk Assessment (ERA), develop an Ethics Strategy, Ethics Management Plan, Ethics Infrastructure, Ethics Training Plan, Ethics Policies and Reporting Channels. These important frameworks will assist the Department of Infrastructure Development to??create a working environment that is free of unethical behaviour and corruption which negatively impact on service delivery”.

Morongwa said, “The course content was challenging. I gained a better understanding of my responsibilities.?The nature of my job requires that I educate staff members on Ethics including regulations on conducting business with the State. New appointees from the private sector are often??unfamiliar with processes in the public sector. I believe that once information is shared through education and training, employees will ensure compliance”.

Letsika added,??“Ethics has become a significant measure of good governance in Government institutions. In order to achieve good governance and effective service delivery, measures must be put in place to promote ethical behaviour amongst employees through mechanisms to eradicate fraud and corruption. Corruption affects us all - we should all play our part to eradicate this scourge. Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better!

The Department of Infrastructure Development, implements Ethics Management through a range of systems and processes inclusive of an Ethics Risk Assessment, the implementation of our Ethics Strategy and Ethics Management Plan, the establishment of an Ethics Committee, the appointment of an Ethics Champion and Ambassadors, the development and monitoring of registers regulating gifts and other benefits, managing applications for Remunerative Work Outside the Public Service (RWOPS), the management of employees conducting business with the State and the reporting and monitoring of employee financial disclosures.?