This document sets out the progress on commitments made by the executive and legislature concerning
the Zondo Commission recommendations. It is an update of a document published by PARI in October 2023 for that year’s PARI-CASAC Conference on the Zondo Commission.
The recommendations contained in the Zondo Report can be critiqued, and we do not argue that they should be implemented by the executive wholesale. Indeed, they should be subject to careful consideration and robust debate, which was the aim of conferences held by PARI and CASAC in 2022 and 2023. However, crucially, the Commission has exposed critical weaknesses in the state which need to be addressed by government — whether through investigating and prosecuting corrupt actors, reforming state institutions or making legislative changes.
Most of the Commission’s 205 recommendations concern further investigations and prosecutions of implicated parties. This has also been the focus of most discussion in the media and by civil society. These processes are being tracked by some of our civil society partners. PARI, however, is primarily concerned with the institutional and systemic reforms needed to combat corruption and state capture. That is the focus of this document.
This is intended to be a brief and accessible guide to the progress, or lack thereof, in key areas of reform. We hope it will be used as a resource to aid discussion and accountability. It is critical that we examine the reforms currently proposed and consider whether they respond appropriately and sufficiently to the problems exposed by the Zondo Commission. More in-depth monitoring, assessment and evaluation is necessary to ensure a successful ongoing response to state capture.
