Support to the South African National Anti-Corruption Programme

Support to the South African National Anti-Corruption Programme

Within the framework of the Global Programme Against Corruption (GPAC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) entered into an agreement in 2001 with the Government of South Africa entitled the "United Nations Support to the South African National Anti-Corruption Programme". Under this agreement, UNODC Southern Africa has supported the South African Programme Against Corruption through the following.

1.       In 2003, UNODC assisted the Government of South Africa in undertaking an assessment to determine the extent of corruption in South Africa.  This culminated in the publishing the Country Corruption Assessment Report which was prepared within the framework of the United Nations GPAC and the project of UNODC to support South Africa's Anti-Corruption Programme. The Report is the first comprehensive description and analysis of the corruption and anti-corruption scenario in South Africa. Nationally, the Report indicated that four in ten South Africans believed that corruption was one of the most important problems that needed to be addressed, and 61% in the business sector believed that corruption was a serious problem. The Report analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the legislative framework; institutional capacities for prevention, investigation and prosecution; management policy and practice; ethics and public education; and role of civil society, mass media and political parties. It also examines the position of South Africa within the global and regional contexts. The analysis of each of these topics is followed by a set of strategic and operational recommendations.

2.       During 2005, UNODC assisted in the Government of South Africa's Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) organise the 2nd National Anti-Corruption Summit.  The purpose of the Summit which was a follow up of the 1st National Summit held in 1999 was to address corruption in cooperation with business, the public sector and civil society organisations. 27 Resolutions pertaining to the development of the National Anti-Corruption Programme as a mechanism to implement the UN Convention against Corruption were adopted. Furthermore, the Office assisted in the implementation of one of the strategic objectives of the National Action Plan from the Summit which relates to ethics training as a critical part of the ethics and awareness programme of all sectors including incorporation in school and tertiary curricula. In collaboration with the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) under the leadership of the Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC), a study to interrogate the extent to which ethics and integrity are integrated into the schools and tertiary institutions curricula was undertaken.  The results of the study will assist with highlighting the true situation resulting in policy review. Moreover, UNODC Southern Africa supported in the organisation of the 3rd National Anti-Corruption Summit which took place on 4 and 5 August 2008.

3.       In line with support to the anti-corruption programme, the UNODC also assisted the Government of South Africa in preparation for the Global Forum V and also attended the Africa Forum during 2007.