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CEO UPDATE
Leadership accountability remains one of the most critical elements in maintaining a functional public sector that serves its citizens, yet this crucial piece is largely missing in South Africa. Across the country, we witness public institutions failing to uphold their responsibilities, from water shortages to raw sewage polluting our rivers, alongside the ongoing manipulation of public finances for nefarious purposes. Our message is clearer than ever: accountability must be actively pursued, and it’s up to civil society to demand more.
OUTA’s recent investigation into Sanral’s 2024 financials has revealed an ongoing crisis at this important state-owned entity. Shocking patterns of board overreach and overspending go unanswered, while creative accounting of inflated e-toll revenue, along with a corresponding write-off of this income as "impaired debt," appears to be a desperate attempt to downplay their failures.
While we often focus on financial mismanagement in the public sector, another crisis is unfolding that threatens the very foundation of our daily lives: our water supply. Many remain oblivious to the fact that Johannesburg has narrowly avoided Day Zero four times this year. Reservoirs and pipes are leaking at an alarming rate, with approximately 40% of the city’s water reserves lost to decay. However, this issue is not confined to Johannesburg; similar systemic failures in water management are evident throughout South Africa, with communities struggling against collapsing infrastructure and water shortages. The common factor in these challenges is a lack of government action and accountability.
Through our WaterCAN division, we’ve empowered citizens to lead in water quality testing and advocacy. Our work demonstrates that when citizens engage, they can compel government responses within their municipalities. However, simply testing water is not enough. We must hold water authorities accountable for addressing the ailing infrastructure that keeps our cities hydrated. Water is now a nationwide crisis—one that will only worsen unless we advocate for meaningful reform in water governance across the country.
In the past two weeks, our years of relentless efforts against corruption within the Sector Educational Training Authorities (SETAs) reached a new milestone when Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education used OUTA’s input to challenge the management of Services SETA regarding maladministration and corruption. This kind of action signals positive movement within Parliament, suggesting a more earnest attempt to hold executive powers to account. This work aligns with our recently introduced project—funded by the European Union—which aims to develop a Parliament Performance Oversight Dashboard in partnership with PMG and Open-Up. This initiative will enhance transparency for all stakeholders through digital dashboards monitoring parliamentary performance.
Accountability is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for a functioning society. It’s not just something we should demand from others, but an obligation we, as citizens, must embrace by actively engaging in governance processes. A prime example of getting involved in holding government accountable, is OUTA's decision to legally challenge NERSA’s premature and irregular granting of generation licenses to Karpowership. Consistent pressure from OUTA, along with organisations like The Green Connection and the Centre for Environmental Rights, ultimately led to government cancelling the deal, saving South African taxpayers at least R200 billion over the next two decades.
What ties all of this together? Whether it’s Sanral’s financial dodging, Johannesburg’s water crisis, or our broader parliamentary oversight work, the underlying issue remains the same: a failure to hold those who misuse or misplace public funds to account. Compounding this problem is the unfortunate reality that, despite a decade of State Capture and years of reporting from the Zondo Commission—with much talk and strategizing around anti-corruption initiatives—meaningful action is lacking to combat the growth of criminal syndicates and the corrupt plundering of state resources.
Next week, the Minister of Finance will announce developments related to the management of the country’s finances during the Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). We will advocate for spending that fosters greater accountability and consequence management, particularly within the criminal justice sector, including SARS, NPA, SIU, and the Hawks.
As we approach the end of 2024, it is crucial to reflect on how each of us can contribute to driving the change we desperately need. We also believe it is essential for South Africa to see a significant increase in active corporate citizenship. Corporate South Africa plays a vital role in defending our democracy against the ravages of corruption. To this end, OUTA is engaging with corporate boards and executive management teams to help them understand their crucial role in this space and how to integrate such activities into their environmental, social and governance (ESG) agendas. We urge business leaders to reach out to us for engagement on this front.
While our workload at OUTA continues to grow, our donations have not kept pace with the increasing demands on our teams. Every donation makes a real difference, and I want to express my sincere appreciation to all who continue to support our work. If you haven’t already, please consider encouraging your friends, family, and business leaders to join this cause—together, we can achieve so much more.
Kind regards,
Wayne Duvenage
CEO, OUTA