The African National Congress Led Government's (In)ability to Counter Public Corruption: A Forensic Criminological Perspective

Abstract

Since the advent of democracy in 1994, there has been a myriad of incidents of corruption involving the public servants in South Africa. Equally so, the government led by the African National Congress have developed various mechanisms aimed at dealing with the problem of corruption. The incidents of corruption, characterized by colossal thefts, embezzlements and rampant bribery are the basis of erudition around the ability of the African National Congress led government in dealing with corruption. Although this article acknowledges the presence of corruption during the apartheid era, its crux is mainly on whether the programmes employed by the African National Congress proved adequate in turning the tide against the scourge of corruption, which tends to erode the fabric upon which the South Africa’s economy is built. At the same breath, it is interesting to establish if the programmes employed by the ruling party encapsulate the internationally accepted elements reminiscent of an anti-corruption programmes worldwide. These elements are inter-alia, measurement of public perceptions, creation of public awareness, disincentivising corruption, visible sanctions, bureaucratic reform and most mportantly, the political will in dealing with corruption. Corruption is an indicator of a defective system of public accountability which involves subversion of public interest for personal gains. An ability to deal with corruption manifests tself in two-fold paraphernalia. It encompasses understanding the causes of corruption on one hand and the calculated esponses in countering corruption on the other. It is against this background that his article endeavours to establish the advancement of the African National Congress in dealing with corruption in government.

Keywords

• Democracy
• Public Corruption
• Public Servant
• Anti-corruption
• South Africa