The vice of corruption

We should be glad that authorities expose many cases of corruption in the South African civil service. On the other hand, we must be concerned that there is so much dishonesty among officials who administer services paid for by taxpayers.

Corruption is commonly defined as the abuse of public office for private gain.

It is human to behave dishonestly in order to get financial and other gain for oneself. Our faith tells us that this is due to Original Sin. Social scientists who do research into crime of all kinds imply the same thing when they observe that crime and corruption are based on human weakness which spans cultures, countries and generations.

Crime statistics are not always reliable in South Africa and much crime is said to be under-reported. The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation has regretted what it calls the strategic error in closing down so many useful anti-corruption units.

In highlighting police corruption, the centre reported that it no longer examines whether corruption occurs in any given police agency but asks how big, of what nature it is and what its impact is. Its summary is: “Simply put, police corruption lurks in the arena where a police member’s discretion starts and organisational control ends.”

Official reports and media enquiries into other branches of civil service have also suggested that laws and rules are bent and evaded in many ways by some government employees who will readily accept a bribe.

Our government has said it wishes to work with the Church to strengthen the moral fibre of our people and to promote a spirit of peace. President Mbeki also said as much to Pope Benedict at their historic meeting earlier this month.

It is true that even one corrupt official in a department unfortunately makes the entire department look corrupt, a case of one rotten apple spoiling the barrel. Aware of this, the authorities are now targeting the organisation and not just the individuals in it.

From the moral point of view it is the individual’s personal integrity that protects organisations from corrupt practices. But temptation and opportunism can be overwhelming, especially in an atmosphere where dishonesty is tolerated and credible role models are not much in evidence.

It is within this culture of “getting away with it” that Christians find it a challenging prospect to teach and encourage the observance of the virtues of truthfulness, honesty, personal integrity and respect for the rights of others.

The Catholic Church’s many schools and institutions are contributing towards inculcating a strong sense of morals based on the will of God and the love of Christ his Son. We all need to make a greater effort as we find that corruption in politics, sport, business and even in church groups and schools continues.

In our schools, learners are told that respect for human life is an important Christian virtue, and respecting others and their rights is the practical way to exercise it. However, they must also be told that respect for their own person is of equal importance.

To respect oneself is to be and act as a unique individual who is answerable for his own moral behaviour. Answerability to oneself is the same as responsibility to oneself.

Cecil John Rhodes once said cynically that every man has his price, and this idea certainly did not die with him. That is why we must all work ardently to prove him wrong.