FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
Fraud policy
Aligned to its IFMF, Overberg Water Board has in place a Fraud Policy with the main objectives as follows:
- Promote standards of honest and fair conduct.
- Prevent fraud and corruption.
- Detect and investigate fraud and corruption.
- Take appropriate action against offenders, e.g. refer to authorities for prosecution, disciplinary action, etc.
- Recover any losses; and
- Maintain strong systems of internal control.
Fraud Prevention Plan
The Fraud Prevention Plan is a key principle within the Integrated Fraud management framework which assists Overberg Water Board with mechanisms designed to prevent, deter, and detect fraud. The plan has and includes techniques to avoid potential key fraud risk events and establishes to mitigate possible impacts on the organisation. This Fraud prevention is embedded in internal controls which is part of Overberg Water Board’s policies and procedures and includes elements of Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics, Disclosure of Interests, delegation of authority, proper recruitment vetting and checks.
A fraud implementation plan will be used to monitor compliance to the plan. Of significance to the Fraud Prevention Plan is the existence of the Fraud Prevention Committee which continues to provide assurance to the board that there is effective institutional-wide prevention of fraud and corruption and that where there are complaints, those are effectively managed and appropriately followed-up and efficiently investigated.
Overberg Water Board has a Fraud Hotline linked with the one for the Department of Water & Sanitation and the Presidency managed by an external independent service provider who manages all calls, and emails on the Fraud Hotline and issues information to the appropriate recipients as per mandate. All calls brought to the attention of the Overberg Water are investigated for validity and the prevention efforts focus on identifying controls to better manage the fraud risk.