The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with profound concern the fact that 62% of South Africans believe that levels of corruption have increased over the past twelve months, according to a Transparency International report released today, to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.

The report shows:

• 62% of South Africans say level of corruption has increased over the past 12 months. Only 15% say corruption decreased.
• Poll respondents in only seven other countries (Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon and Pakistan) rated their police service more corrupt than South African respondents. In sum, South Africans scored the police service as 4.4 out of 5, where 5 is highly corrupt, and 1 is not at all corrupt.
• More than half of South Africans (56%) believe that the ANC government’s actions in the fight against corruption are either ineffective or make no positive effect.

The figures relate to a poll conducted by Topline Research Solutions on behalf of Transparency International, which used a representative sample of 1,000 South Africans in urban areas.

The enormity of the corruption crisis facing South Africa – and a longstanding inability to counter it – is well documented. For instance, the Public Service Commission’s 2010 State of the Public Service report shows that the 1,204 financial misconduct cases committed in government departments in 2008/09 was the highest number in seven years, and that the national government has only achieved a 10% feedback rate on cases reported to the National Anti-Corruption Hotline.

This new data therefore provides yet further evidence that the Zuma administration is failing to turn the tide on corruption in South Africa. President Zuma’s own failure to disclose his financial interests demonstrated a particularly acute failure of leadership in this regard.

The data also underscores the significance of efforts being made in the DA-governed Western Cape to address corruption. The Western Cape has recently:

• Passed groundbreaking legislation, prohibiting government employees and their families from holding more than 5% shares in entities doing business with the provincial government.
• Achieved a 100% compliance rate in submitting financial disclosure forms in terms of the Financial Disclosures Framework Act. This contrasts with a national average of 46%.
• Achieved a feedback rate on anti-corruption reports that is seven times greater than the national average (72% in the Western Cape, versus 10% nationally). The feedback rate refers to the percentage of complaints of corruption, reported through the PSC’s National Anti-Corruption Hotline and then forwarded to the relevant government department, that is ultimately successfully referred back to the Public Service Commission. The PSC uses this figure as a key indicator of departmental capacity in dealing with corruption.

It is only through sustained anti-corruption measures, such as those being undertaken in the Western Cape, that figures such as those released in today’s Transparency International report will begin to be remedied.