Dear OUTA Supporters,

The rot is deeper than we think - but accountability is beginning to stir.

South Africans are once again confronted with uncomfortable truths emerging from the Madlanga Commission. What is being revealed is not merely isolated wrongdoing. It is a pattern of systemic erosion of ethical conduct within parts of the state, where positions of authority have increasingly become gateways to personal enrichment rather than public service.

This is not a claim I make lightly. The testimonies and evidence emerging from the current commission point to a disturbing normalisation of procurement manipulation, where individuals appear to believe they are entitled to benefit from public funds. That sense of entitlement is perhaps the most dangerous element of all. When public office is seen as a reward mechanism rather than a responsibility, governance begins to decay from within.

And yet, we must be careful not to paint all public servants with the same brush. There are many honest police officers, administrators, and officials who continue to serve with integrity under difficult conditions. They are the ones working to keep institutions functioning, often while trying to resist procurement abuse and protect systems from manipulation.

The exposure of this rot was evident for all to see during the three-year-long State Capture Commission. And yet, very little in the way of accountability emerged from that expensive episode. Which raises the concern of how systemic corruption has become in South Africa. Recent developments beyond the Commission, such as the controversy surrounding undeclared “gifts” in the form of vehicles reportedly received by two Ministers (Sishi Tolashe and Maropene Ramakgopa), and the almost casual manner in which these issues have been brushed aside, speaks volumes. It reflects a troubling attitude that ethical breaches are minor inconveniences rather than serious violations of public trust.

This is how systemic failure embeds itself, not only through grand corruption, but through the steady erosion of morals, ethics and more worryingly, a lack of accountability standards.

This past month also saw a new chapter playing out in the South African Airways saga, which offers another case study in how governance failures manifest. This time, it revolves around the resignation of its CEO, John Lamola, who was appointed under questionable circumstances just 16 months ago in February 2025. Despite two other CEO candidates who scored higher in the board’s evaluation process, questions arose about the integrity of decision-making, when Minister Barbara Creecy chose to override a merit-based appointment, sending a clear signal that political considerations still outweigh competence in key state institutions.

Sadly for South Africa, the essence of cadre deployment and the quiet sidelining of meritocracy still lives on, despite the President’s repeated statements and calls for professionalisation of the public sector, of which the consequences are predictable. Leadership instability follows. Institutional credibility erodes and ultimately, the taxpayers are forced to contribute to the failures. Lamola’s resignation is not an isolated event, but signifies the outcome of a flawed process.

At the same time, ordinary South Africans are grappling with rising costs driven by global geopolitical tensions. Fuel price increases are placing immense pressure on households and businesses alike. Transport costs rise, food prices follow, and the cost of living tightens its grip. While these pressures are global in nature, their local impact is severe.

Government’s decision to provide some relief through adjustments to the fuel levy is therefore a welcome step. It acknowledges the strain that citizens and the economy are under. The current situation also highlights a deeper issue of how vulnerable our economy remains to external shocks, compounded by domestic inefficiencies of failing infrastructure, poor service delivery and the high cost of electricity.

When global pressures meet weak local governance, the effects are amplified.

April also marked the anniversary of our constitutional democracy, 32 years after South Africans of all races secured the right to vote, to participate, and to live under a system founded on equality and dignity. There is no question that political freedom was achieved.

It is, however, equally clear that political freedom has not translated into economic inclusion for millions. Too many South Africans remain excluded from meaningful participation in the economy, with unemployment and poverty remaining staggeringly high. Access to quality education, healthcare, reliable electricity, water, and safety is still uneven and, in many cases, inadequate. For millions, the promise of freedom remains unfulfilled.

This is not because the vision was flawed. It is because the system has been steadily undermined by a persistent failure to enforce accountability. Corruption, nepotism, and weak leadership have enabled the diversion of resources and skills, away from where they are needed most. The result is a state that struggles to deliver, and a society where inequality remains entrenched.

In some respects, poverty has deepened rather than receded.

And yet, this is not a story of inevitable decline. There are signs that accountability is beginning to take root. Investigations are gaining traction. Arrests are being made. Institutions that once appeared paralysed are starting to move.

The leadership of Advocate Andy Mothibi at the NPA, along with a recent spate of recoveries and exposures by the Special Investigating Unit, suggests that the tide may slowly be turning. It is not happening fast enough and it is not yet consistent, however it is happening, and that matters, because accountability is the foundation upon which trust is rebuilt.

Civil society has a critical role to play in this moment.

This month also saw the launch of Courage Hub this month - spearheaded by civil activist Cynthia Stimpel - is a new civil society organisation stepping up where the state has often fallen short, in support of whistleblowers who have long been the backbone of accountability in South Africa, yet they have paid a heavy price professionally, financially, and personally. Courage Hub will most likely play an important role to ease the challenges experienced by whistleblowers, in that it recognises that exposing corruption is not enough and that they must also be supported and empowered.

Organisations like OUTA, Courage Hub and the broader network of organisations and active citizens, must continue to hold the line. To expose wrongdoing. To demand transparency and push for consequence management where the state falls short.

Change will not come from rhetoric. It will come from sustained pressure and while the road ahead is not easy, the challenges as real as they are, are not insurmountable.

South Africa has overcome far greater obstacles in its past. The question now is whether we have the collective will to confront the failures of the present in robust, honest and with persistence, and without fear or favour.

As always, our thanks to all our donors - individuals and businesses - who contribute every month to OUTA’s work, without whom we would not exist. You are all active citizens of note.

Wayne Duvenage

CEO, OUTA