Gov’t expands asset declaration net to high-risk officials

Presenting his Committee of Supply speech, the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, revealed that the Ethics and Integrity Directorate (EID) has expanded the list of public officers required to declare their assets and liabilities. The newly added categories include procurement officers, project managers, engineers, licensing and inspection officers, as well as land board officials involved in adjudication, conveyancing, and technical processes. According to Mohwasa, these positions are seen as particularly vulnerable to corruption risks.

“The Directorate has included among the list of those who are required to declare the following,” Mohwasa said, before outlining the expanded categories. The move, he said, follows consultations with ministries, which were asked to submit names of potential declarants working in high-risk areas. “Amongst the list submitted, we selected the above,” he said.

The Speaker, Dithapelo Keorapetse, delivered a judgment on the allegations made by Moswaane regarding an influx of substandard medicines into the country. After reviewing a dossier of evidence, including savingrammes, letters from BOMRA, and even a death certificate, the Speaker concluded that the Minister was guilty of grave exaggerations.The ruling did not dismiss Moswaane entirely though. It acknowledged that some medicines had been recalled,…