A comprehensive new assessment from Corruption Watch reveals deepening governance challenges across South Africa’s public sector, with the organization’s 14th annual report, KeNako: Mobilising for justice, documenting 2,222 complaints—91 percent of which relate to corruption.
Data from the report shows that as of 2024, maladministration represented 108 reported cases while fraud accounted for 330 cases, marking these as the most frequently cited forms of corruption. Lebogang Ramafoko, executive director at Corruption Watch, noted that the organization continues to receive approximately 185 submissions monthly from citizens, even during periods when it did not actively solicit reports.
“Whistleblowers are key in protecting our democracy and in securing our fiscals,” Ramafoko stated, underscoring the vital contribution of public disclosures to accountability efforts.
The assessment identifies the South African Police Service and the Department of Basic Education as the institutions most frequently cited in complaints. Geographic analysis places KwaZulu-Natal at the forefront for reported cases. According to Ramafoko, these trends signal a broader deterioration of institutional accountability.
“Corruption is not about individuals but about when a system is being taken over by organized crime by nefarious means,” Ramafoko explained, referencing findings from a corruption risk assessment conducted in the Eastern Cape. The report raises concerns about recruitment and procurement practices, where political considerations frequently supersede merit-based decisions, enabling corrupt networks to operate across provincial lines.
Bribery and extortion emerged as persistent issues within policing, with allegations that cases may be dismissed or investigations stalled in exchange for payment. Ramafoko emphasized that such practices directly compromise essential services and public safety.
The report also details significant risks confronting whistleblowers, including workplace retaliation, termination, and—in cases involving high-value tenders—threats to personal safety. Ramafoko highlighted the pending Public Disclosures Bill, currently open for public comment, as a critical legislative step toward strengthening protections for those who expose wrongdoing.
“Corruption is not victimless,” Ramafoko asserted. “It means somebody will have a baby on the floor. It means the police will not come. It means the ambulance will not come. It means people will die. It means the poor will remain poor.”
Referencing ongoing investigations by the Special Investigating Unit and proceedings before the Madlanga Commission, Ramafoko acknowledged asset freezes linked to corruption but cautioned that political interference and deliberately weakened institutions continue to obstruct meaningful reform. The report calls for amendments to the National Prosecuting Authority Act, sustainable funding for anti-corruption bodies, and consideration of an independent entity dedicated to addressing corruption as a specialized priority.
Against the backdrop of upcoming local government elections, Ramafoko called for broad civic engagement. “All of us are potential whistleblowers,” they said. “We are responsible for making sure that we turn the tide on corruption.”
While recognizing the scale of the challenge, Ramafoko expressed measured hope: “Given the sentiment that is turning around, given 2,000 people who have come out and said this is what is happening and we are not going to keep quiet, I am saying we are winning or at least making a dent.”
