SA has scored 4,8 out of a possible 10 on Transparency International's index on corruption perceptions.

The slip from last year's score of five is an indication that perceptions of business and governance practices have not improved.

SA is among 70 countries out of the 102 ranked by Transparency International that scored fewer than five out of a possible 10.

The index reflects the perceptions of people in business and risk analysts resident in the surveyed countries, as well as those outside.

Transparency SA chairman Daryl Balia said last night that the slight decline could be attributed to the perception that corruption was not being dealt with adequately.

Balia said the extensive controversy surrounding the country's multibillion-rand arms deal may have played a huge role in this.

He said media and non-governmental organisations had played a "critical role in raising public consciousness of corruption" in SA.

Transparency SA, the local chapter of Transparency International, said it was concerned about the growing perception that SA business people were bribing officials in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

It expressed regret that the index did not take into account regional surveys and analysis.

Transparency SA said it would welcome a step in this direction as a positive change in the index's methodology would give added impetus to the role that chapters of Transparency International could play in the southern African region by monitoring the implementation of the SADC protocol on corruption.

Transparency SA said it was particularly concerned about potential corruption in relation to the newly formed African Union and the new Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad). "Transparency SA's primary focus would be on Nepad's vulnerability to corruption. Corruption tends to find a gap between policy and implementation."

It said it was important for governments affiliated to the African Union to take seriously this year's findings on corruption.

This was because those based in the wealthier countries of the north, and who paid bribes "would naturally find gaps in Nepad".

Transparency International chairman Peter Eigen said the World Summit on Sustainable Development "must lead to action. Corruption impedes sustainable development and robs the children of today of the resources they will need to survive tomorrow."

With acknowledgements to Bonile Ngqiyaza and Business Day.