▶️ By Corrpution Watch – the post Gcaleka: fight against corruption needs resources, ethical leaders appeared first on ©️ Corruption Watch.
Summary by Vuka.news:
1. Key Features of the Zondo Commission
- Advocate Paul Pretorius highlighted the independence and effectiveness of the Zondo Commission (2018–2022) in uncovering state capture.
- Its success stemmed from:
- Vigilance and awareness from civil society, anti-corruption bodies, and whistle-blowers.
- Support from media, academic research, and the Public Protector’s State of Capture report.
- “Critical to the success … of the Zondo commission was that it was an independent commission of inquiry chaired by an independent judge.”
2. Addressing Corruption in South Africa
- Pretorius emphasized the severe societal threat posed by crime and corruption: “We are in serious trouble as a result of crime, corruption, and the violence and the threat to our society that accompanies it.”
- Civil society must rekindle the urgency that led to the Zondo Commission’s formation.
3. Challenges of Resources and Capacity
- Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka stressed the need for resources to combat corruption effectively:
- The Zondo Commission cost R1 billion, while Thuli Madonsela’s earlier investigations faced funding denials.
- Ethical leadership and proper resourcing of anti-corruption institutions are critical: “What is critical, from our perspective … is the issue of ethical leadership.”
4. Ethics and Oversight
- Ethics reforms, such as amending the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, are crucial but delayed.
- Gcaleka highlighted flaws in government and legislature oversight, particularly in procurement and budget approval: “Oversight and accountability play a critical role, and that is in the hands of the legislature.”
5. Broader Institutional Reform
- Ethical leadership must extend beyond government to all arms of the state: “Institutions like ourselves find ourselves having to account in Parliament to the very same people who were in government.”
