Business' anti-graft role

NECESSARY: COLLECTIVE ACTION, GOOD-FAITH COMPLIANCE PROGRAMMES >>> Very little research on how SA companies can stop corruption.

- Ina Opperman

Corruption is a word we hear every day in South Africa and it seems government is not doing anything about it. But government is not the only player here. Businesses have a big role to play in tackling corruption and the buzz word there is integrity.

Institute for Security Studies research shows that companies can use their market power to drive corruption from their sectors and reap the financial rewards. The research, in the form of a policy brief, was discussed at a seminar in Johannesburg this week.

The researchers concluded that anti-corruption collective action programmes and good-faith anti-corruption compliance programmes are needed to tackle corruption from the side of business.

Researcher Colette Ashton said they found two serious gaps: very little research on how companies can stop corruption and that South Africa is far behind in compliance where the private sector is concerned.