ActionSA president Herman Mashaba on Wednesday urged for drastic action to end corruption, which he says has become ubiquitous in the State, by removing corrupt leaders who “only serve their self-interest”.

Anti-corruption movement Transparency International (TI) recently released the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, painting a bleak picture of the country’s corruption status. South Africa has lost another two points since last year on the leading global index measuring perceptions of public sector corruption around the world, with a score of 41.

Mashaba said the decline highlighted how the country's anti-corruption efforts had regressed under President Cyril Ramaphosa, and that he urgently needed to be replaced in the elections this year.

“Only a government outside of the ruling party can begin the hard work of turning South Africa around and putting her back on the path to prosperity,” he said.

Mashaba alleged that despite promises made by Ramaphosa and the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the President has failed to act against corruption and had, instead, “found himself complicit in corruption” through the Phala Phala scandal, allowing for porous borders and in bribes at the Department of Higher Education and Training.

He added that Ramaphosa’s government spent over R1-billion on the Zondo Commission, but, to date, had failed to prosecute State Capture crimes.

“This is the legacy voters should judge Ramaphosa and the ruling party on when they head to the polls this year,” said Mashaba.

He said ActionSA believed whistle-blowers, such as the murdered Babita Deokaran, should be protected, and that Chapter 9 of the Constitution should be amended to establish an independent corruption-busting unit like the Scorpions.

ActionSA also seeks to increase the minimum sentence for anyone guilty of corruption in transactions exceeding R500 000, to 15 years imprisonment without the possibility of a fine or parole.

“In government, we would also introduce e-procurement systems that reduce human intervention in procurement decision-making to diminish the possibility of corruption. It is only when we are tough on corruption and our leaders set the example that we will be able to defeat the beast that is corruption in South Africa,” said Mashaba.

He believes the ANC has consistently shown that it lacks the political will to act on corruption, and instead perpetuates it.