The impact of overlapping mandates of the South African public sector anti-corruption agencies on the South African anti-corruption framework

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was, firstly, to identify the overlaps of mandates of the South African public sector anti-corruption agencies, and secondly, to study the impact that these overlaps have on the South African anti-corruption framework. The research further led to other focus themes: a comparison of South African anti-corruption agencies (SAACAs) to international anti-corruption agencies, the revision of the mandates of the SAACAs, and the implementation of best practice models in the South Africa anti-corruption agencies. A qualitative research method was applied in this study; this goes well with the pragmatist worldview. A pragmatist worldview allows researchers the latitude to choose the method, the type of technique and the procedures to be used in the research study. A literature review was conducted, which was followed by interviews with managers/commanders, lawyers and investigators from the SAACAs, namely the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), Directorate pf Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and South African Police Service (SAPS). A total of 27 interviews were conducted. The sample size was 90 which was reduced to 27. This reduction was due to constraints experienced by the researcher. All the agencies were notified of the research and the purpose to interviews; however, agencies were not prompt in responding, one agency denied permission, and the staff were reluctant to avail themselves to be interviewed. The participants were chosen based on their experience and knowledge of investigation of corruption in South Africa. The data received from the participants were analysed using data collection methods, data analysis and interpretation techniques, and write-up of the findings, suggested by experienced authors. The findings of the research revealed that there is a great deal of literature focused on the measurement of corruption, but corruption measurement results are based on perceptions instead of verifiable data. Corruption in South Africa is deep-rooted, and stems from decades ago, going back to the apartheid era, when the country used to conduct covert distribution of government monies. ACAs do not want to share information, because they would want successes for their ACA. This negative impact results in a break in the chain of evidence, ultimately resulting in court cases being lost. Many countries have followed the single ACA approach of Hong Kong, which is said to be a leader in approaches to fighting corruption in that country. These countries have been successful in fighting to reduce corruption. However, even countries that adopted the single ACA approach, such as Botswana, have been shaken by a series of scandals. The participants have a good understanding of the corruption, the ACAs in SA, and the impact of the overlaps of the mandates of ACAs. This is confirmed from the interviews undertaken during this research. The key conclusion is that South Africa has many capable ACAs, a sophisticated anti-corruption legal framework, and support from international donors, to help it fight the scourge of corruption. The country needs the political backing and support of key stakeholders to help it on this journey to reduce corruption. The mandates of the ACAs are complex and widespread; however, certain overlapping does cause them to be less impactful and less successful. The ACAs in the country need some changes, after which they will be able to produce successful outcomes. The mandates of the ACAs do not need a total overhaul, but rather some revision and clarity, in order to be more effective than they are currently. South Africa should not focus on the creation of a single agency approach. Instead, the country should utilise its strengths and improve on its weaknesses.

Die doel van hierdie navorsingstesis was eerstens, om die oorvleueling van mandate van die Suid-Afrikaanse agentskappe teen korrupsie te identifiseer, en tweedens, om die impak van hierdie oorvleueling op die Suid-Afrikaanse raamwerk teen korrupsie te bestudeer. Die navorsing het verder tot ander fokustemas gelei: 'n vergelyking van Suid-Afrikaanse agentskappe teen korrupsie met internasionale agentskappe teen korrupsie, die hersiening van die mandate van die Suid-Afrikaanse agentskappe teen korrupsie, en die implementering van modelle vir beste teen-korrupsie praktyk in die Suid-Afrikaanse agentskappe vir korrupsie. In hierdie studie is 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode toegepas, want dit stem goed met die pragmatistiese wêreldbeskouing. 'n Pragmatistiese wêreldbeskouing stel navorsers in staat om die metode, die tipe tegniek, en die prosedures wat in die navorsingstudie gebruik moet word, te kies. 'n Literatuuroorsig is uitgevoer, wat gevolg is deur onderhoude met bestuurders/bevelvoerders, advokate, en ondersoekers van die Suid-Afrikaanse agentskappe teen korrupsie, naamlik die SIU, AFU, DPCI, IPID en SAPS. Altesaam 27 onderhoude is gevoer. Die deelnemers is gekies op grond van hul ervaring en kennis oor die ondersoek na korrupsie in Suid-Afrika. Die data wat van die deelnemers ontvang is, is met behulp van data-insamelingsmetodes, data-analise en interpretasietegnieke geanaliseer, en die bevindings voorgelê soos deur ervare skrywers voorgestel. Die bevindings van die navorsing het aan die lig gebring dat daar heelwat literatuur is wat gefokus is op die meting van korrupsie, maar dat die resultate van korrupsie-metings gebaseer is op persepsies in plaas van verifieerbare gegewens. Korrupsie in Suid-Afrika is diep gewortel, en spruit voort uit dekades gelede, terug na die apartheidsera, toe die land vroeër geheime verspreiding van regeringsgelde uitgevoer het. ACA's wil nie inligting deel nie, want hulle wil suksesse vir hul eie ACA bekom. Hierdie negatiewe impak lei tot 'n breuk in die ketting van getuienis, wat uiteindelik daartoe lei dat hofsake verloor word. Menigte lande het die enkele ACA-benadering van Hong Kong gevolg, wat beskou word as 'n leier in benadering tot die bestryding van korrupsie in die land. Hierdie lande het daarin geslaag om korrupsie te verminder. Selfs lande wat die enkele ACA-benadering gebruik het, soos Botswana, is egter deur 'n reeks skandale geskud. Die deelnemers het 'n goeie begrip van die korrupsie, die ACA's in SA en die impak van die oorvleueling van die mandate van ACA's. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekking is dat Suid-Afrika heelwat bekwame ACA's het, 'n gesofistikeerde raamwerk teen korrupsie, en ondersteuning van internasionale skenkers om te help om die plaag van korrupsie te beveg. Die land het politieke steun en ondersteuning van belangrike belanghebbendes nodig, om dit op hierdie reis te help om korrupsie te verminder. Die mandate van die ACA's is kompleks en wydverspreid; sekere oorvleueling veroorsaak egter dat dit minder impak en minder suksesvol is. Die ACA's in die land het 'n paar veranderinge nodig, waarna hulle suksesvolle uitkomste kan lewer. Die mandate van die ACA's het nie 'n totale hersiening nodig nie, maar eerder 'n mate van hersiening en duidelikheid om meer effektief te wees as wat dit tans is. Suid-Afrika moenie op die skepping van 'n enkele agentskapsbenadering fokus nie. In plaas daarvan moet die land sy sterk punte benut en sy swak punte verbeter.

Inhloso yalesi sifundo socwaningo, okokuqala, bekuwukuhlonza ukweqana kwemiyalelo yezikhungo ezilwa nenkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika, okwesibili, ukufunda umthelela walokhu kweqana okunawo ohlakeni lokulwa nenkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika. Lolu cwaningo luphinde lwaholela kwezinye izindikimba okugxilwe kuzo: ukuqhathaniswa kwezikhungo ezilwa nenkohlakalo zaseNingizimu Afrika nezinhlangano zamazwe ngamazwe ezilwa nenkohlakalo, ukubuyekezwa kwegunya lezinhlangano ezilwa nenkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika, kanye nokuqaliswa kwezibonelo zezindlela ezihamba phambili eNingizimu Afrika ezikhungweni ezilwa nenkohlakalo. Kusetshenziswe indlela yocwaningo olusezingeni eliphezulu ephathelene nesimo kulolu cwaningo; lokhu kuhambisana kahle nombono womhlaba weprakmathisi. Umbono womhlaba weprakamathisi uvumela abacwaningi ububanzi bokukhetha indlela, uhlobo lwesu kanye nezinqubo ezizosetshenziswa esifundweni socwaningo. Kwenziwa ukubuyekezwa kwezincwadi, okwalandelwa yizingxoxo nezimenenja noma abaphathi, abameli nabaphenyi bezinhlangano ezilwa nenkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika, Uphiko Oluphenya Ngokukhethekile , Iyunithi Yokudliwa Kwempahla, Uphiko Olubalulekile Lophenyo Lobugebengu, Uphiko Lwamaphoyisa Oluzimele lokuphenya kanye noPhiko Lwezemisebenzi Yamaphoyisa aseNingizimu Afrika (i-SAPS). Kwenziwe izinhlolokhono ezingama-27 sekuphelele. Ababambiqhaza bakhethwe ngokusekelwe ulwazi noma isipiliyoni abanaso lophenyo lwenkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika. Imininingwane etholakale kubabambiqhaza iye yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa izindlela zokuqoqa ulwazi, ukuhlaziya imininingwane kanye namasu okuhumusha, nokubhalwa kokutholiwe, okuphakanyiswe ababhali abanolwazi olunzulu. Okutholwe ucwaningo kwembula ukuthi kunenqwaba yezincwadi ezigxile esilinganisweni senkohlakalo, kodwa imiphumela yokukala inkohlakalo isekelwe emibonweni esikhundleni seminingwane eqinisekisiwe. Inkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika ijule kakhulu, futhi isukela emashumini eminyaka edlule, kusukela esikhathini sobandlululo, lapho izwe lalisabalalisa ngokuyimfihlo izimali zikahulumeni. Izikhungo Ezilwa Nenkohlakalo azifuni ukwabelana ngolwazi, ngoba zifuna impumelelo yezikhungo ezilwa nenkohlakalo zawo. Lo mthelela omubi uholela ekunqamukeni kochungechunge lobufakazi, okuholela ekutheni amacala ezinkantolo alahleke. Amazwe amaningi alandele indlela eyodwa yeZikhungo Ezilwa Nenkohlakalo esetshenziswa iHong Kong, okuthiwa ihamba phambili ekulweni nenkohlakalo kuleliya lizwe. La mazwe aphumelele ekulweni nokunciphisa inkohlakalo. Kodwa-ke, ngisho namazwe asebenzisa indlela eyodwa yeZikhungo Zokulwa Nenkohlakalo, njengeBotswana, anyakaziswe wuchungechunge lwamahlazo. Ababambiqhaza banakho ukuqonda okuhle ngenkohlakalo, Izikhungo Ezilwa Nenkohlakalo eNingizimu Afrika kanye nomthelela wokweqana kwegunya leZikhungo Ezilwa Nenkohlakalo. Isiphetho esibalulekile ukuthi iNingizimu Afrika ineZikhungo Zokulwa Nenkohlakalo ezinamakhono amaningi, uhlaka oluqinile lokulwa nenkohlakalo kanye nokwesekwa kwabaxhasi bamazwe ngamazwe, ukuyisiza ukulwa nesihlava senkohlakalo. Izwe lidinga ukwesekwa kwezombusazwe kanye nokwesekwa kwababambiqhaza ababalulekile ukulisiza kulolu hambo lokunciphisa inkohlakalo. Amagunya eZikhungo Ezilwa Nenkohlakalo ziyinkimbinkimbi futhi zisabalele; nokho, ukweqana okuthile kubangela ukuthi babe nomthelela omncane futhi baphumelele kancane. IZikhungo Zokulwa Nenkohlakalo ezweni zidinga izinguquko ezithile, emuva kwalokho zizokwazi ukukhiqiza imiphumela eyimpumelelo. Amagunya eZikhungo Zokulwa Nenkohlakalo azidingi ukuguqulwa okuphelele, kodwa kunalokho ukubuyekezwa kokuthile nokucaciseleka, emuva kwalokho bazokwazi ukukhiqiza imiphumela ehlabahlosile. INingizimu Afrika akufanele igxile ekwakhiweni kwe-ejensi eyodwa. Esikhundleni salokho, izwe kufanele lisebenzise amandla alo futhi lithuthukise ubuthakathaka balo.