A section of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's Budget speech was headed "accountability for service delivery". Although not much commented on, it is worth revisiting as it deals with how most people will experience government.

Manuel said: "When people experience poor service delivery, or our projects fail, then not only are citizens denied those services to which they are entitled, but, in turn, their capacity to contribute further to the development process is undermined."

He went on to say: "Unless our policies are implemented efficiently, courteously, honestly and enthusiastically, we will achieve far less than we intend."

Ultimately, said Manuel to the assembled MPs, "responsibility stops here".

There was a hint of frustration in Manuel's words and it is clear that he takes a dim view of officials who "make pensioners wait for hours in the sun because they have not bothered to arrive on time".

But what of Parliament and the nine provincial legislatures that are supposed to see to the accountability of public officials? Have these institutions taken up the responsibility that Manuel was talking of?

Perhaps not.

Manuel can consider himself fortunate not to have had to stare down the benches at ANC MP Tony Yengeni, who was not in Parliament for the speech.

Here is a public official who, by his own admission, has defrauded Parliament.

Yet he appears to be immunised against any form of official sanction.

Not even the fact that a court has accepted his guilty plea has spurred Parliament into action.

A draft resolution is reported as stating that "the House pronounces its strongest disapproval of the Honourable Yengeni's conduct and censures him accordingly".

Until it is shown to be otherwise, the public is entitled to believe that Parliament is toothless in the face of such mocking dishonesty.

The Star newspaper reports that Speaker Frene Ginwala "complained that despite having asked for stricter sanctions to be written into Parliament's rules, this had yet to be done".

All of these feats of obfuscation and inaction have implications that stretch way beyond the immediate fate of the "honourable" Yengeni.

They are signals that are broadcast loud and clear to all in public office.

Including those who are responsible for pensioners waiting in the sun.

Why should they adopt Manuel's standard of efficiency, courteousness, honesty and enthusiasm, when Manuel's tailor-suited parliamentary bench mates can get away with fraud?

Should they, like Yengeni, be asked to look into their consciences every so often and then carry on as usual ?

Manuel has once more drafted a laudable Budget.

But the public service that must implement it is being led with moral economy.

With acknowledgements to Sunday Times Editorial and Sunday Times.