South Africa launches anti-corruption unit

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa has launched an anti-corruption unit to investigate government officials misusing funds and receiving bribes.

Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi said in a speech Thursday that the government has come a long way in the fight against corruption, but that bribes and negligence still plague the country.

Transparency International this year ranked South Africa 54 out of 178 on its Corruption Perceptions Index. Last year, President Jacob Zuma was implicated in a corruption case relating to a multibillion-rand (dollar) arms deal bribery scandal, but charges were dropped.