President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation Address. Picture: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
Political analysts have welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plans to eradicate and tackle corruption.
During his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa announced plans to ensure a corruption-free nation.
He reflected on the establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption as a permanent body within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dedicated to investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption cases.
He said they will ensure the directorate is fully resourced and has access to the information needed to prosecute state capture cases and hold those responsible to account.
“We are establishing a world-class digital forensics lab to support the investigation of complex corruption and financial crime with cutting-edge tools and expertise,” Ramaphosa said.
“We are making steady progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the State Capture Commission, including signing into law several legislative reforms.”
The president said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Asset Forfeiture Unit report that over R10 billion has been recovered in state capture-related cases.
“This year, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will report on the review of the anti-corruption architecture by the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council,” Ramaphosa said.
“This is expected to streamline legislation, eradicate the duplication of mandates, and foster greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”
Ramaphosa added: “We will finalise the whistle-blower protection frameworks and introduce the Whistle-blower Protections Bill in Parliament during this financial year.”
Political analyst Dr Ongama Mtimka said the data on where we are in terms of investigating cases by the NPA is welcome.
“There is a need for a greater sense of urgency though, because South Africans do generally feel like the state is losing the fight against corruption and crime. So there’s a greater need to fast track whatever measures are being implemented there,” Mtimka stated.
Continuing, he said whistle-blowers in South Africa remain vulnerable to killings, abuse, intimidation, and threats of losing their jobs.
“So it’s important that the government contemplates and finds ways in which they can improve whistle-blower security and protection so that they can encourage a wider number of people to consider whistle-blowing early enough when they come to know of corrupt activities in their spheres of work. So this is important and urgent.
“However, if there isn’t focus on safety and privacy, then that work is going to be futile.”
Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation director, Professor Siphamandla Zondi, said the president indicated that the war on corruption that has been happening all along will be intensified and that there will be more done in this area.
“All of this is positive. It all is going to come back to whether the government can implement what is undertaken and that is where the challenge is going to be,” Zondi said.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za