The dysfunctionality is rife and the mismanagement is astonishing. Corruption is under every leaf. But doesn’t it take two to tango? Who’s fingering private enterprise?

As anyone will recall from sibling rivalry that a game of “he did it-she did it” achieves little. But shouldn’t we be looking into who the protagonists are in the Public Works corruption saga? Apart from the guilty government officials, there’s someone else playing a significant role in this debacle.

Looking outside of this particular saga for a moment and at the infamous Arms Deal, lots of accusations and uninvestigated claims abound about government officialsas far up as our own President. All worthy of answers and unbiased investigation – may truth prevail. Call it reactionary if you like or perhaps it’s a distraction but is it possible we could learn some of the truth by examining those who actually offered the bribes: those squeaky clean Europeans. After all there’s a stereo-type to maintain: isn’t corruption an African problem not a European problem?

Back to the South African government department of Public Works, the focus of attention is squarely on the officials. This is understandable, good and right. But there is a nameless faceless mass out there that has to be doing the corrupting, offering the bribes and greasing the wheels. Roux Shabangu would be an exception since he hasn’t managed to escape the glare of public media attention. 

This is not to suggest yet another Third Force conspiracy either and one is not unaware that the corrupt historically have drawn more attention than the corruptor. But this should not negate zeal for the exposure of both parties in corruption, for the sake of weeding it out.

What now of the 22 irregular leases in Jo’burg involving payments of R64m, currently under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit? Let’s hope that not just the crooked officialsare exposed but their private enterprise partners as well.

Nxesi is reported to have said: "We have instructed our lawyers to approach the high court to nullify these irregular lease agreements and institute action against whoever unduly benefited." This is a start.

Public Works manages 1 277 leases on behalf of the SAPS. A task team of SAPS and Public Works officials are now investigating those too. Let’s see everyone come out into the light when those rocks are turned over. No protection for tango partners.

Which bring us to consider one of the consequences in the case of crooked leases: the inflated rates of the leases.Mr Nxesi said fraudulent and irregular leases, where the state paid exorbitant prices for leasing buildings, were so numerous that the property market in some areas had been permanently distorted! The knock on effect to the property industry is obvious.

Consider this next time you tut tut those wicked, naughty corrupt government officials. Someone from private enterprise is dancing the tango too. Before they shrink back into the shadows ask the question who’s doing the corrupting and how come they’re getting a free pass?