Kaya News Reporter
Afrobarometer released findings of a survey that found South Africans believe corruption worsened under Cyril Ramaphosa.
The survey was conducted for the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and released this week.
A total of 1,600 people took part in the survey conducted between May and June this year. According to the findings, 64% of the people interviewed say things have gotten worse since the Covid-19 pandemic.
70% believed the ANC is not performing when it comes to tackling corruption and many expressed concerns about the risk faced by whistleblowers.
Last month government health official Babita Deokaran was gunned down outside her home. She was a key witness in an investigation for fraud and corruption relating to the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Gauteng.
Key findings
▪ Almost two-thirds (64%) of South Africans say that corruption worsened under Cyril Ramaphosa, including half (49%) who believe it increased “a lot.”
▪ State institutions are widely seen as corrupt. Half or more of citizens say “most” or “all” officials are involved in corruption in the police (56%), the president’s office (53%), local government councils (51%), and Parliament (50%). Non-governmental organizations, traditional leaders, and religious leaders are less commonly seen as corrupt.
▪ Seven in 10 South Africans (70%) say the government is performing “fairly badly” or “very badly” in the fight against corruption,
▪ Among citizens who interacted with key public services during the past year, substantial proportions say they had to pay a bribe to avoid a problem with the police (24%) or to obtain a government document (21%), police assistance (15%), public school services (10%), or medical care (8%).
▪ Three out of four South Africans (76%) say people risk retaliation or other negative consequences if they report incidents of corruption, a 13-percentage-point increase compared to 2018.
▪ Seven in 10 citizens (71%) believe that officials who break the law “often” or “always” go unpunished, while half (49%) say ordinary people who commit crimes enjoy such impunity.
The survey found that in 2018, President Ramaphosa’s promises to restore government integrity, strengthen democratic institutions, and fast-track development gave South Africans a renewed sense of hope.
Among those believed to be the most corrupt are officials in the Presidency, police and local government councillors.
Also read: Ramaphosa – Babita Deokaran is a hero
