CAPE TOWN — The civil society organization OUTA (Undoing Tax Abuse) is intensifying its call for parliamentary accountability regarding systemic governance failures within the South African Police Service (SAPS). OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage emphasized that lawmakers must move beyond superficial “window dressing” and enforce rigorous oversight, including mandatory lifestyle audits and deep structural reforms, to address the ongoing crisis.
Addressing the recent public presentation of the parliamentary ad hoc committee’s findings, Duvenage clarified that the document is merely a preliminary deliberation guide, not a finalized report. While he conceded that the committee is correctly barred from making legal pronouncements on criminality—a mandate strictly reserved for the courts—he criticized the cautious, “low-key” tone of the proceedings. He described the current political dynamics as more of a “talkshop” than a serious investigative endeavor.
The core of Duvenage’s critique centers on what he perceives as a persistent reluctance by Members of Parliament to firmly hold the executive branch accountable. He challenged lawmakers to actively question the presidency regarding the stalled national anti-corruption strategy. This strategy, he noted, already contains vital, actionable solutions for combating corruption, such as enhanced whistleblower protection and guaranteed independence for oversight bodies.
Expanding on the root causes, the OUTA leader pointed to deep-seated structural flaws across various government institutions and state-owned entities. He argued that excessive appointment powers remain concentrated in the hands of politicians, fostering conflicts of interest between corporate boards and executive management, while critical civil society reports are routinely glossed over without meaningful scrutiny.
Consequently, Duvenage revealed that OUTA is directing its primary attention toward the Madlanga Commission. He expressed skepticism about the ad hoc committee’s output, suggesting that the substantive, meaningful work required to dismantle corruption is far more likely to emerge from the Madlanga proceedings rather than parliamentary “theatrics.”
When pressed on whether the legislature faces further reputational damage, Duvenage pointed to historical precedents. He recalled the Zuma era, specifically the Constitutional Court’s rebuke of Parliament for failing its constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable during the Nkandla “swimming pools” controversy.
He further highlighted the sixth parliament’s recent shortcomings, noting its failure to adequately hold President Cyril Ramaphosa to account, specifically citing the mishandling of the December political task team matter.
Ultimately, Duvenage warned that issuing lightweight, circumspect recommendations will only compound the public’s existing lack of trust in the legislative body. He urged Parliament to seize this opportunity to mandate failsafe institutions and genuine law reform, rather than allowing the current perception of parliamentary ineffectiveness to worsen.