ACC BOSS: WE’RE LIKE DUMMIES

LOBAMBA – “We are not happy.”

The above was expressed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Daniel Dlamini, who revealed that staff morale was at an all-time low at the institution because most of their operations were out of their control. Dlamini revealed this yesterday when the ACC appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to a few audit queries. The ACC boss made the statements after PAC Chairperson Matsanjeni North PM Phila Buthelezi expressed concern that although the ACC had functions to play, the results were just not there. “You are not working, right now as the PAC we are here working on the small fish yet the ACC, which is supposed to investigate the ‘big fish’ is not delivering,” said MP Buthelezi. He said it was painful that although the ACC carried out investigations, they could not effect any arrests or that none of their cases were going to court to be heard.

“You should be bringing investor confidence, but there will be none if your organisation is dormant,” said Buthelezi. In response, Dlamini admitted that the working environment was not a nice one. He however, stated that he was not the competent person to address these issues. He revealed that the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, had facilitated some meetings to try and address the issues of constitutional alignment between the ACC and the Human Rights Commission, which seemed to be playing similar roles. He said the minister had also compiled a consultative report which he hoped would set in motion the merger of the two institutions if that would be the case. Dlamini said it was concerning that some of the matters that they had investigated were still not being heard in court and said the director of public prosecutions (DPP) had even written to the courts asking that the matters be heard.

He said as an employee of the ACC, he would sometimes ask himself how he got into that position and even get tempted to think that they (other officers as well) wished they were working elsewhere. Dlamini said they had also launched an appeal at the High Court following a judgment made by the chief justice, which had ensured that some of the matters were not brought before the courts or arrests effected. He said it was like they were ‘dummies’ (sitithipha) and that was the reason why they were not happy.

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