Industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) has, in collaboration with fraud specialist Moore Stephens South Africa Forensic Services, launched an anticorruption hotline for the construction and engineering industry.

The initiative would enable Cesa members and members of the public to report suspected fraud, corruption and maladministration related to the awarding of a tender or contract in the construction sector.

Moore Stephens would establish the hotline for a three-month trial period, after which a decision on whether it would remain active would be made, dependent on the nature of calls received and the take-up response.

“We, therefore, encourage our member firms, as well as members of the public to make use of this confidential facility [that is] intended to tackle corruption, which is the number one impediment to the roll-out of infrastructure,” Cesa said in a recent statement.

In addition, the hotline would allow the organisation to gather statistics on the frequency of alleged tender fraud, which the organisation said it might decide to pursue further.

“It should not be forgotten that the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004 makes corruption a crime and applies to all people working in the public or private sectors. The Act requires anyone in authority, such as a manager, to report corruption and other crimes related in the Act involving R100 000 or more, to the police. Failing which, they will be guilty of a crime,” Cesa cautioned.

Information revealed by callers to the hotline would be analysed and forwarded, with recommendations, to a specified senior Cesa official, who would then decide on what, if any, further action should be taken.

The hotline report would not reveal the caller’s identity, unless they specifically indicated that their identity may be made known to Cesa.

The hotline number is 079 360 7273 and the service will be operational for 24 hours a day, seven days a week from July 1 to September 30.