South Africans in general believe there is a lot of corruption and that it is a common occurrence, according to a report released by Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi on Wednesday.

The report, a joint effort by government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Southern Africa division, says 39 percent believe there is a lot of corruption and 41 percent think it is one of the most important problems facing the country.

Only 35 percent think the government is doing a good job fighting it.

Addressing a media briefing, Fraser-Moleketi said the survey covered, among others, about 1000 companies with 50 or more employees and about 85 government departments between April and December last year.

An executive summary says the business sector in particular, believes (62 percent) that corruption has become a serious issue in business and for business, although it is likely that it is not seen as an important factor in deciding on investment.

Only 12 percent refrained from making a major investment because of corruption.

However, it adds that citizens’, business’ and public officials’ overall actual experience with corruption is much lower than one might expect from a rather widespread belief that corruption is a common occurrence.

"The business survey showed that 15 percent were approached to pay a bribe, while seven percent had to pay a bribe, and four percent had to pay extortion."

The most common areas of corruption are viewed in relation to seeking employment (4.4 percent), and the provision of services such as water and electricity (3.2 percent), housing (2.6 percent) and social grants (2.3 percent).

Public service managers also identified nepotism in job seeking, promotions and in the provision of entitlements.

The business community identified clearance of goods through customs, procurement of goods for government, police investigations, and obtaining business licences and permits, work and residence permits as the most corruption prone activities.

The public servants most associated with corruption appear to be the police, followed by customs, local government, home affairs, and court officials, the report says.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and iafrica.com.