The document summarizes a business learning forum on anti-corruption held by the Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) on September 25, 2012. The BBCBE represents black construction organizations in South Africa. Forum participants discussed weaknesses in South Africa's anti-corruption agencies and the need to mitigate abuse of power, recover corrupt funds, and reduce monopolies. They also stressed applying anti-corruption rules consistently and responding appropriately to prevent future offenses.

1. Business Learning Forum on
Anti-Corruption
25 September 2012

2. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS
COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
TOMOROW’S LEADERS DEEP SENSE OF
HISTORY
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COMMUNITY SUPPORT

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4. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS
COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT
IN MY VIEW ENVIRONMENT
I have watched with very keen interest the anti
corruption fight as shouldered by the relevant
agencies namely the:ISS,SAACA,
I have seen through my binoculars several
contradictions and inadequacies in the whole
fight to address the prevalence of corruption
in South African Society.
Policy management 4

5. I PERSONALLY GET EMBARASED
WHEN MANAGERS AND CEO ARE COURT IN CORRUPT ACTIVITIES
The activities that constitute illegal corruption differ depending
on the country or jurisdiction. For instance, some political
funding practices that are legal in one place may be illegal in
another. In some cases, government officials have broad or ill-
defined powers, which make it difficult to distinguish between
legal and illegal actions. Worldwide, bribery alone is estimated to
involve over 1 trillion US dollars annually A state of unrestrained
political corruption is known as a kleptocracy, literally meaning
"rule by thieves".
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6. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
FIRST THING WE NEED TO FIND OUT
WHY IT HAPPENS
The strength of an anti-corruption fight derives
from how much
independence it is granted either by the law setting
it up or the operative environment under which it
carries out its stated assignment.
From an anti-corruption perspective, it will suit the
public if we take off from the standpoint that
everybody is corrupt except the agency. Therefore,
the responsibility is vested on the
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7. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS
COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
PUT IN PLACE MITIGATION
Let us look at the recoveries from those who are often arrested
and made to enter into plea bargain in order to extract a pound
of flesh from them.
How much of such recoveries do we hear about the ISS,SAACA
are supposed to publish such recoveries for public consumption.
It is not a secret document or undertaking an anti-corruption
agency cannot operate like a secret agency.
Probing further one is wondering why anti-corruption agencies
should operate under regular courts. The slow administration of
justice cannot help dispense justice at the nick of time. Often
times you hear of all manners of adjournment appeals and plea
bargains.
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8. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS
COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF THE ACT
In anti-corruption studies, there is what is called
cost analysis when you intend to embark on any
anti-corruption crusade. Such analysis will help
one to
Rationalize whether it is plausible to spend
one million chasing a moan who is suspected to
have 100k whether it is justifiable to spend
bogus budget in the name of anti-corruption
without commensurate returns to the treasury
COMMUNITY SUPPORT 8

9. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS
COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
What the anti-corruption agencies should be doing is to come up wit
laws and provisions that would tend to reduce monopoly powers of
individuals in different government or private establishments.
Once you make it a point of duty that only a man’s signature is
required to seal a deal, then you have created platform for such a man
to abuse his powers.
What anti-corruption studies advocate is that checks and balances
should be created to make it difficult for an individual to wield
enormous powers, so that he does not subject it to abuse. If you
ordinarily allow individuals certain space, be sure they would ask for
additional space, tat is why it is instructive for ISS and SAACA to build
platforms that would mitigate the abuse of individual’s discretionary
power
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10.  consistently enforcing appropriate discipline;
 responding to offences and preventing
reoccurrences.
 The disclosure of the code of ethics should
include a statement of the
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11.  Given the whole chance professionalism in
management how do the business schools
teach they have to do a better job.
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12. The Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) is the apex organization
of black construction and professional organizations in the country. It was
established in 2007 and one of its main objectives is to engage government and
other statutory bodies to influence the drafting and implementation of appropriate
legislation in order to create an enabling environment for the black constituency in
the building and construction industry.
The following national organizations are members of the BBCBE:
 NAFCOC Construction (NAFCON);
 South African Women in Construction (SAWIC);
 Siyakha;
 South African Black Technical & Allied Careers Organization (SABTACO);
 National Association for Youth Empowerment in Construction (NAYEC); and
 African Builders Association (ABA).
Our member organizations represent the interests of SMME’s in the industry and a
significant percentage of the membership is women and youth-owned.
The BBCBE is affiliated to the Black Business Council (BBC).

13.  The issue of morality will be called to
question if a man who has not published is
audited accounts is accusing other of not
doing the same. It takes away a lot from the
process. We must begin to apply the basic
rules of anti-corruption and trying in the
process to fry the big fishes in a manner that
is not selective.
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23. BBCBE
BLACK BUSINESS
COUNCIL
IN THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
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25. HOW DO WE REFLECT ON THESE PICTURE 25

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27. For more information contact:
Achieng Ojwang, Manager: Business in Society
+27(0)11 544 6000; ojwang.achieng@nbi.org.za
www.nbi.org.za