Pretoria: South Africa is not only intensifying efforts to root out corruption but is proactively "building firewalls against it", says Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi. The Minister launched International Anti-Corruption Day in Pretoria on Wednesday, where he emphasised that South Africa is moving towards a "cleaner and accountable State".
According to South African Government News Agency, the launch of International Anti-Corruption Day signifies a renewed contract of trust for South Africans. Minister Buthelezi stated, "As we mark the International Anti-Corruption Day, our message is direct and that is: corruption is a threat to economic competitiveness. It is a social destabiliser and a direct assault on the developmental aspirations of our people."
Buthelezi declared that corruption would be confronted, dismantled, and uprooted from the system, whether it manifests in boardrooms, municipal offices, or even in global networks. He highlighted South Africa's successful hosting of the G20 as evidence of the nation's ability to convene, lead, and deliver on complex, multilateral platforms, thereby positioning the country as a credible leader in governance and institutional reform.
A critical pillar of South Africa's leadership was the work of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, co-chaired alongside the Special Investigating Unit. Buthelezi stressed that the country has moved from making statements of intent to reaching a point where citizens expect a capable and ethical State.
This year has been a strategic inflection point for South Africa's global leadership on anti-corruption, as the nation builds on strong momentum from successfully hosting the G20 summit. The main anti-corruption hotline for the South African government is 0800 701 701.