It's not ordinary criminals I'm speaking of ... they've been with us forever and will be in future too. It's those who already have their bread well buttered but want to live on crayfish and caviar. Mind you, nothing wrong with crayfish and caviar if it is earned legitimately.

We don't seem to be able to get away from dishonesty, with daily news breaks of another scam or developments in others.

Yesterday we had more on the bribing of soccer referees and suggestions it could be closer to home than imagined. Eastern Cape officials are being investigated and some of our teams too. The suspicion is that success on the field may not be all hard work, commitment and skill. There could be backhanders, bribed officials and matches fixed.

Then there was a report about a senior SABC manager who has been suspended because of widespread claims he sought sex for jobs, and that Makana (Grahamstown) municipal officials are being investigated following allegations of fraud and corruption.

What about the diplomat who made unwanted sexual advances on his staff overseas, was found guilty at an inquiry and then exonerated by his minister? That stinks of cronyism.

I know that the majority of South Africans are law- abiding but there just seem far too many with hands in the till or taking advantage of position to line pockets or satisfy lust.

Reports of teachers and headmasters in rural schools seeking favours from pupils and making them pregnant is another example of rampant sexual perversion and moral decay.

Is nothing sacred any more?

Drugs are pouring into the country as are illegal immigrants in drug and human trafficking.

Businesses don't know whether they are going to get work for government through tendering because tender committees are influenced or bought off, expecting (and sometimes getting) kickbacks if work is awarded.

It's frightening. Where are we going? What can be done about it?

No conscience

I'VE HEARD so many stories of motorists being caught in rural speed traps and offering bribes to get off, something readily accepted by law enforcement officers, that it has to be rife. Blame must be shared by citizen and officer. So-called good people are promoting dishonesty, the very people who complain about it. It isn't a one-way thing. It has to be stamped out.

At least organisations like the Scorpions and SA Revenue Service are trying to get to the bottom of a lot of these practices. However, the possibility of being caught seems to hold no fear for so many. They are just plain greedy. Too many are already on a good wicket and yet are not satisfied. They want more and more and are prepared to take risks to grab a bit of it.

What is it about us? Aren't threats of heavy fines, confiscation of possessions and even jail sufficient punishment? Conscience is unknown to many.

Some crimes are committed through dire need by people in hopeless positions who see no way out. Stealing for them is the difference between life and death. Although wrong, I can understand this desperation. But for the greedy and well-heeled, punishment should be more of a deterrent.

Trouble is it's like swatting flies. Catch a dozen and another 12 hatch in some other dung heap or are already working on a scam. Don't they realise they'll be caught, or are so many getting away with fraud, theft and corruption that they see a good chance of going undetected?

I'm sure many of us despair at what is happening around us. Africa unfortunately has a poor reputation for shady operations. Somehow we have to break from that mold and define a new code of morality. Honesty and integrity must be built, not cast aside for dubious personal gain.

June 23, 1954: (The Chiel) An interesting flashback to the good old days was provided by a copy of the Daily Dispatch annual of 1903, a 168-page production, well illustrated. A picture shows the Daily Dispatch offices, at the corner of Caxton and Buffalo Streets. The first article in the annual is by Edgar Wallace of the Rand Daily Mail recounting episodes during the war in the Orange River Colony. Pictures of the leading citizens reveal that flowing moustaches were the fashion, and 3-inch high stiff collars.

June 23, 1974: UK Press headlines: Lions gorge happily on Springboks - Sunday Telegraph. Mauled by the Lions - Sunday Mirror. The Greatest Lions of All - News of the World. Pretoria: Five tries to none - that is evidence enough of how the British Lions dominated the second international against the Springboks at Loftus Versveld (yesterday). Johan Claassen's team was out-gunned, out-manoeuvred and out-thought at every turn and their 28-9 defeat represents the biggest hiding South Africa has ever suffered - Neil Cameron.