The public service commission is making strides in combatting and preventing corruption in the public service, the commission's 200102 annual report says.

The document says the commission has also improved significantly on its spending patterns.

"This is evidenced by the reduction in the voted surplus from 17% for the financial year ended March 31 2001 to 2% for the period under review," commission chairman Stanley Sangweni said.

Describing the past year as "extremely productive and rewarding", he said "the message that has permeated all of our work has been that efficiency and corruption will not be tolerated, and key aspects of public administration will continue to be assessed and reported on".

The commission embarked on a range of investigations based on information obtained from "whistle blowers" on human resource practices in the public service. "The approach to these investigations has been developmental and supportive, rather than punitive and judgmental," the report says.

Investigations included alleged irregularities in staffing practices of the Free State agriculture department where it was found that "four out of six allegations were substantiated". The commission proposed remedies on each case. These covered reviewing filling of posts, awarding salary notches, alternative placements of officials and guidelines on recruitment and selection, and salary determination."

An investigation into alleged irregularities in the appointment of three directors in the Free State education department found that "the experience and qualifications of the three were not in line with the advertised requirements and that proper job evaluations were not carried out prior to the filling of the posts".

Other investigations of alleged irregularities relating to recruitment and selection included:

A probe of KwaZulu-Natal's education and culture department.

A commission investigation of the public works, roads and transport department.

"The commission is increasingly being seen by national and provincial administrations as a resource where advice can be sought to resolve issues of labour relations and corruption prevention," said commission directorgeneral Mpume Sikhosana.

Meanwhile, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi will soon release a report on corruption in the public service

With acknowledgements to Irene Louw and Business Day.