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Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo believes that a hung parliament, where no single party holds a majority, is beneficial in preventing the protecting of corrupt leaders. He says an effective fight against corruption involves the right laws, structures and processes, and enhanced whistle blowing protection.
He was speaking at the international anti-corruption conference, held at the Nelson Mandela University on Monday. Zondo highlighted the state capture debacle, and the maneuvers in parliament to shield the then-head of state’s involvement in the scandal.
The State Capture Commission’s report revealed widespread corruption and maladministration in various state institutions in the country. Zondo’s masterplan to fight corruption is to catch it early, shut it down, prosecute and support the whistleblowers. He emphasized that eradicating corruption starts with individual accountability and ethical leadership.
Zondo says an effective fight against corruption involves the right laws, structures and processes, and enhanced whistle-blowing protection.
“We all agree that whistleblowers must be given protection, and I hope we all agree that they must be given incentives to blow the whistle. Maybe this is easier to do in respect of whistleblowers but there may be challenges on how it is done in respect of corruption resistors.”
He has also outlined how people who are facing allegations of corruption should not be employed by the government. “An example of this is in employment. How do you employ someone who has allegations leveled against them, yet there are people who do not have allegations but the same qualifications? It undermines the state of corruption. We saw this during the state capture, when certain people were hired.”
He went on to say society should also refrain from idolizing people accused of corruption or fraud.
“Society has a tendency of idolising and celebrate people who have been accused of corruption, and the message they send is that they have no problem with people who are corrupt and align themselves with corruption.”
The aim is now to sensitize South Africans, about ways to address corruption. Nelson Mandela University’s FishFORCE academy director, Hennie Van as says this conference was also aimed at creating awareness.
“We are trying to increase the level of awareness not only about corruption, cause I think in South Africa we are very much aware of corruption, but what needs to be done to address it. So we need to achieve that mindset and to encourage people to come forward when they notice issues that could be corruption and to report it so that it can be addressed, so we don’t have another state capture corruption,” Van says.
The former Chief Justice says that organizations requiring criminalization before members resign is unethical. He says members should step down when faced with serious misconduct allegations to promote accountability and set an example.
[LISTEN] “Any [political] party that wants to protect its president, will have to rely on the assistance of other parties”- Former Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo welcomes GNU in fight against corruption.
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