I am writing in response to Carmel Rickard's article "Lesotho shames South Africa with its resolve to stamp out bribery" (April 18).

We agree that the Lesotho government deserves full credit for the exemplary way it has prosecuted those who sought to corrupt the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. But when Rickard alleges that South African authorities do not feel passionate about good governance, she is wrong.

Our government has actively fought corruption. The 1997 anti-corruption campaign culminated in a national summit at which the public and private sectors committed themselves to establishing sectoral anti-corruption strategies.

In the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, as with all departments, a policy of zero tolerance of corruption was adopted in 2000.

In the case of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, my officials and I strongly supported the Lesotho authorities through meetings at ministerial level as well as engaging with diplomatic representatives and officials of overseas funding institutions. Support to the Lesotho public prosecutor's office included assistance from the Reserve Bank with investigations into foreign-currency transactions.

My department also interacted with South African companies to obtain information and determine whether they were involved in any malpractices through the consortiums of which they were a part.

Although no legislation enables South African public bodies to exclude tenderers with records of bribery in other countries, South African companies have been advised that future associations with companies that have engaged in corruption will count against them.

We have taken the lessons of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project to heart. We aim to deter offenders, bind service providers to follow sound practices, provide for harsh contractual measures to deal with corruption and ensure that all officials know that there will be zero tolerance.

Ronnie Kasrils, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry

With acknowledgements to Ronnie Kasrils and the Sunday Times.