09/17/2021 | Press release | Archived content
The Presidency has noted media reports on an Afrobarometer survey on public perceptions of corruption in society, in which a majority of the respondents felt that corruption had worsened over the last year.
The results of the survey no doubt reflect the lived experiences of many South Africans who continue to encounter corruption in various forms. This could be in accessing frontline government services or businesses seeking procurement opportunities with the state. Corruption, whether large or small, remains one of the greatest challenges facing our country, holding back economic growth and social development. Corruption robs citizens both directly and indirectly, and undermines confidence in the institutions that are supposed to serve them.
Perceptions of corruption are no doubt also the result of the prominence of specific cases of corruption in the public space. This is due in large part to the work done by the media in uncovering and reporting on allegations of corruption, and the progress being made by law enforcement agencies in detecting corruption and prosecuting those alleged to be responsible.
Evidence presented at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture and in the country's courts have exposed criminal transactions on a massive scale between public servants, parties in the private sector and individual citizens.
Since he was elected President in February 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken several decisive steps to end state capture, fight corruption and rebuild damaged public institutions
As a result of the work of the Fusion Centre, 39 accused persons had appeared in 23 criminal court cases across the country by June 2021.
Approximately R878 million in total has been recovered by the Fusion Centre and placed into the fiscus. This includes the recovery by SARS of R252 million in taxes.
By August 2021, the SIU had referred cases worth R1.4 billion to the Special Tribunal in order to have contracts set aside and recover lost funds; referred 148 individuals and entities to the National Prosecuting Authority for possible criminal action; referred 127 government officials for disciplinary action and 3 political office bearers for executive action.
Through the work done in strengthening law enforcement agencies, several high-profile cases of alleged corruption have been brought to courts across the country.
Such investigations, trials and disciplinary proceedings - which are the result of the responses of this administration to bribery and corruption - raise public awareness of incidents of wrongdoing.
While there is much more work that needs to be done to fight corruption, particularly the kind of corruption that impacts directly on people's lives, there is clear evidence that after years of impunity progress is being made in bringing those responsible to account. Just as importantly, there is real progress in strengthening the institutions responsible for fighting corruption and other public bodies that have been badly damaged by corruption.
The Presidency will continue to give political leadership to this work and welcomes all institutions and instruments that share government's interest in the ethical renewal of our society.
Media enquiries: Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President - [email protected](link sends e-mail)