The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture (CSWG) met in Johannesburg on 4 June 2026 to deliberate on the proposals of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC), including its recommendation for the establishment of the Office of Public Integrity (OPI) as part of South Africa’s future anti-corruption architecture.
The NACAC report was handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2025. In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, the president undertook that government would “finalise [its] approach” to NACAC’s recommendation on “the establishment of a permanent, independent, overarching anti-corruption body”. More than nine months after receiving the report no clear, substantive, and time-bound response has been provided, nor any actual movement on institutional reform. This is unacceptable.
The CSWG therefore calls on the president to publish a clear and substantive government response to the NACAC report within 90 days. This must set out a time-bound implementation plan for reforming South Africa’s anti-corruption architecture. In particular, the CSWG calls on the president to urgently:
- clarify its position on the proposed OPI, including its mandate, powers, independence, funding model, and relationship with existing law enforcement and accountability institutions;
- ensure meaningful public participation in the development of any legislative or policy framework arising from the NACAC proposals;
- take urgent interim steps to strengthen existing anti-corruption bodies, including ensuring the financial and operational independence of the National Prosecuting Authority, and ensuring strengthened capacity and clarity of mandate regarding the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Special Investigating Unit, and the Asset Forfeiture Unit;
- accelerate the creation of a credible, properly resourced, and independent whistleblower protection and support system, with the capacity to provide legal, financial, psychosocial, and physical protection where required; and
- convene an urgent meeting with the representatives of the CSWG by 15 July to discuss government’s response to the NACAC report and the steps required to advance implementation of its recommendations.
Civil society has long warned that accountability for state capture and corruption cannot depend on political will alone. South Africa requires institutions that are independent, adequately resourced, professionally staffed, legally empowered, and protected from political interference.
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