Pretoria: In his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a whole of society approach to tackle both public and private sector corruption with equal energy and build a society where corruption ‘cannot take root’. This call to action comes as the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) presented its final report of a three-year term to the President.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa emphasized that the fight against corruption is complex, multi-faceted, and protracted, necessitating the dismantling of entrenched systems of patronage. He highlighted the need for strengthening state capacity to handle complex cases and closing regulatory loopholes that have allowed corruption to flourish. The President stressed that public and private sector corruption, such as tax evasion and market manipulation, must be addressed with equal vigor, as these practices significantly harm the economy.
Turning to NACAC’s report, President Ramaphosa noted the council’s recommendation for the establishment of a permanent, independent anti-corruption body, to be known as the Office of Public Integrity and Anti-Corruption. This body would have a mandate to prevent, investigate, and address systemic corruption, in line with key recommendations from the State Capture Commission. Further recommendations included strengthening and coordinating law enforcement agencies, utilizing Artificial Intelligence for corruption prevention, and establishing an anti-corruption data-sharing framework.
President Ramaphosa assured citizens that these recommendations will be thoroughly reviewed by relevant government institutions for consideration in Cabinet. He acknowledged the public’s demand for accountability and action against wrongdoers, citing recent progress made by law enforcement agencies such as the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit in tackling corruption at various levels.
The President also highlighted South Africa’s international progress in combating corruption. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery recognized South Africa’s advancements in detecting and investigating foreign bribery cases. Additionally, the Financial Action Task Force noted that South Africa has completed action plan items to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, which is crucial for removing the country from the grey-list.
President Ramaphosa recognized the public’s expectation for more convictions but emphasized that the fight against corruption extends beyond prosecuting individuals. It requires institutional reforms to address practices and systems that enable corruption. He stressed the importance of building transparent, accountable, and ethical institutions, both public and private, to prevent corruption from taking root and urged a collective effort to foster a society characterized by responsibility and integrity.