The Impact of Corruption and Unethical Conduct During COVID-19 Pandemic on Public Funds, South Africa

Abstract

South Africa’s history of service delivery is characterized by deficiencies such as stagnant delivery, unequal distribution, corruption, nepotism, political and administrative dichotomy, poor cadre deployment, lack of public accountability, lack of professional ethics, poor leadership and management crisis. The effects of this COVID-19 pandemic on the local economic development will be felt even long after the lockdown is over, it may have been necessary to saving lives of South Africans but it is killing an already dwindling economy. South Africa’s economy was already in a tough position before the pandemic’s arrival. In terms of Section 152 of the constitution pf the Republic of South Africa (RSA 1996), one of the objectives of this new system of local government is to “promote cohesion, economic development and promoting accountability”. This article/paper discusses the impact of corruption during COVID-19 pandemic on public funding that was supposed to improve service delivery and sustainability of the community of our municipalities in South Africa, together with unethical dilemmas and poor democratic values, the impact of corruption and unethical conduct on the rapid spread of COVID-19 in South Africa. Effective and efficient is necessary for rendering of basic services to the citizens of the country.