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Corruption Watch’s interim leaders Lord Ntambw and Moira Campbell reflect on 2025, in this letter to the organisation’s supporters.
Dear supporters,
Corruption Watch began 2025 knowing this would be a year of transition. As interim leaders appointed following the departure of our executive director, we have been proud to steer the organisation through an extended but productive transition period. Our 2024 annual report’s theme, Accountable Together, has proved critical in a year marked by global instability and profound challenges to democratic institutions.
The context we’re working In
Global politics has been turbulent, with deepening economic and ideological divides. In South Africa, the fight against corruption remains intense, with the rule of law seemingly more at risk than ever. Daily exposés – from Tembisa hospital to construction mafias – and revelations from the ad hoc parliamentary committee and Madlanga commission, both probing corruption and criminality in the police service, have underscored the deep rot in our law enforcement agencies. The recent brazen murder of a Madlanga commission witness has starkly highlighted the woeful inadequacy of whistle-blower protection.
Two years after noting the precarious environment for whistle-blowers, the situation is now critical. Corruption Watch remains committed to advocating for strengthened whistle-blower legislation – a priority that cannot be overstated.
Our achievements
Despite these challenges, our small team has achieved significant victories and continued to focus on our core work:
- June 2025: The Western Cape High Court found in favour of our application opposing the appointment of Dr John Hlophe to the Judicial Services Commission. Together with the DA and Freedom Under Law, who each brought their own applications, we argued that Hlophe’s impeachment and subsequent conduct showed him to be unfit to serve on the JSC.
- August 2025: The Constitutional Court ruled unanimously for Corruption Watch in our application to have the appointment of five Commission for Gender Equality commissioners declared invalid – not because they were unsuitable, but because Parliament had failed in its constitutional duty to facilitate meaningful public participation in the process. This was a critical milestone in our nearly 10-year campaign on leadership appointments.
- Recent months: We successfully pressured the Department of Justice to publish the CVs of candidates for the position of national director of public prosecutions. These were originally withheld from the public, in contravention of the constitutional mandate to ensure meaningful public participation.
- November: We joined civil society organisations in Parliament to demand accountability for the government’s failure to properly implement and monitor farm worker equity schemes, as part of our focus on land corruption and transformation.
- Youth engagement: We carried out significant work with young activists addressing corruption’s impact on their futures, culminating in the exciting Ngeke! Festival on 6 December, where aspiring musicians used their voices and their talent to reject corruption.
- Climate governance: We continued to scrutinise funds meant to protect vulnerable communities from climate change impacts.
Looking ahead
We are grateful for your ongoing support and belief in our work. Your backing sustains our small, dedicated team.
We end on an exciting note: we are delighted to announce the appointment of Lebogang Ramafoko as our new executive director as of January 2026. We look forward to welcoming her leadership.
We wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Lord Ntambw and Moira Campbell
Joint interim leaders: Corruption Watch
