When the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed after this year’s elections, South Africans turned their attention to what the GNU led administration will do at national, continental, and international levels and guess what! It is not a case of a new broom sweeping clean.
The reality known by all of us in the public service space is that one of the leaders from the 10 political parties that came together to chart a new path for our country, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, the current Public Service and Administration’s first 100 days in office were not a disaster. Again, it is not an exaggeration, but a fact, to tell it, as it is that Minister Buthelezi did not hit the ground with his face, writes Nthambeleni Gabara.
At the recently concluded Ministerial meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption working group held in Brazil, Minister Buthelezi demonstrated his well-known desire of ensuring that South Africa is not a playing ground for all forms of corrupt activities.
With his soft voice, the approachable and friendly Minister told his counterparts at the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group that the GNU’s led 7th Administration remains resolute in its commitment to eliminate corruption. The countdown has begun for South Africa to assume the G20 Presidency just one month from now (December 2024 to November 2025).
This is so important…for the first time ever, the G20 Presidency will be rotated to an African country that will demonstrate to everyone that the GNU is not a burden to South Africa’s development through reducing the high levels of corruption, valuing good governance and consolidated shared vision for Africa’s Development.
The G20 which initially focused on general macroeconomic issues, but expanded its agenda to include trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, the environment, and the fight against corruption has annually rotating Presidencies.
There is no one who disagree with Minister Buthelezi that corruption undermines the ability to provide essential services such as healthcare and education. Inkosi Buthelezi is on record urging G20 countries to intensify their fight against rampant corruption or public service looting the commitment of G20 members and invited countries to intensify the fight against corruption.
“We urge all G20 countries to reaffirm their commitment to developing and implementing policies that enhance the integrity, transparency, and accountability of public institutions. This will help prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute corruption holistically.
“We also call on G20 countries to facilitate international cooperation in tracing, freezing, confiscating, and returning assets to their country of origin without delay. “Through international cooperation, we can leverage best practices, exchange knowledge, coordinate investigations, and implement joint initiatives when needed,” he said.
Minister Buthelezi also announced that the South African government is committed to accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 16, which targets reducing illicit financial flows (SDG 16.4), tackling corruption and bribery in all forms (SDG 16.5), and developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions (SDG 16.6).
To achieve these targets, he said partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as the active participation of all members of society, are essential. South Africa is a signatory to numerous international agreements and reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive range of measures aimed at preventing and combating corruption, fostering solidarity, equality, and sustainability.
Speaking at the launch of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD Africa Governance Platform, held in Milan, Italy recently, Public Service and Administration Deputy Minister Ms Pinky Kekana said South Africa will utilise its G20 Presidency to address three strategic national priorities while maintaining focus on continental and international goals.
According to Deputy Minister Kekana, the three strategic priorities of the South African Government of National Unity’s 7th Administration during its G20 Presidency are: reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; building a capable, ethical, and developmental state; and driving inclusive growth and job creation.
“South Africa seeks to use its G20 Presidency optimally to highlight and address its national priorities without losing sight of its continental and international commitments. At a continental level, President Ramaphosa indicated during the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) that, ‘We will place Africa’s development at the top of the agenda when we host the G20 in 2025.”
“President Ramaphosa also emphasized that the South African Presidency of the G20 will focus on the developmental agenda and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she said. We all know about the false narrative out there that corruption is a post-1994 phenomenon, but the reality is that corruption was widespread during the apartheid era.
To prove that the democratic government has an accountable mechanism in place to combat corrupt activities, the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) which was established in 2001 by government, business, and civil society with the aim of combating all forms of corrupt activities in the country has been revived.
The G20 serves as the primary forum for international economic cooperation, monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption—the only legislative mechanism addressing this issue.
Even before assuming the G20 Presidency, the South African government has put several programmes in place. The democratic government also adopting a zero tolerance to combating corruption. All these are anchored on the National Development Plan which envisage a South Africa with reduced levels of corruption by 2030.
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Nthambeleni Gabara is a journalist and a government communicator. He writes in his personal capacity.