Public sector institutions face complex problems in addressing ethical and social responsibility issues. Ethics requires of professionals to maintain the highest degree of trust and confidence bestowed upon them by employers, by ensuring an ethical standard is practised when carrying out their business activities. The public service is riddled with acts of corruption that manifest itself in different categories, namely fraud and bribery, procurement irregularities, unethical behaviour and criminal conduct. The global discourse on good governance is underpinned by the expectation that institutions should be proactive in fighting the spread of corruption and in promoting an integrity-driven form of administration. It is against this backdrop that the public sector explores mechanisms to address the question of morality. Virtuous conduct by employees within organisations must be the catalyst that safeguards institutions from the manifes