Corruption Watch's 14th annual report highlights a pressing need for collective action against corruption.
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Corruption Watch (CW) has formally released its 14th annual corruption report, titled Ke Nako: Mobilising for Justice, outlining a fresh strategic direction that will define its approach towards combating corruption over the next four years as part of its Vision 2030 initiative.
The report highlights a pressing need for collective action against corruption, as CW’s board chairperson, Themba Maseko, emphasised the theme of the report: “We have chosen the theme for this year’s annual report, Ke Nako: Mobilising for Justice because we recognise the imperative for our society to demand justice and accountability from those in power.” Maseko expressed concern over South Africa's stagnant position in the Corruption Perceptions Index, urging the society to shift from inaction to active engagement.
“We cannot leave it to law enforcement to fight the scourge of corruption alone,” said CW executive director Lebogang Ramafoko, pointing out that the law enforcement sector itself is compromised to a troubling degree. “The whole of society should be invested and involved in the fight against corruption,” she added, reinforcing the idea that a united front is essential for genuine change.
The Ke Nako report casts a broad net, identifying critical areas of focus for 2025. These include procurement practices, investigative protocols, land corruption, leadership appointments, climate governance, gender-related corruption, and various initiatives aimed at Strengthening Action Against Corruption. Each area represents both a challenge and an opportunity for intervention.
In a climate that often discourages whistle-blowers, CW commended these individuals for their bravery and perseverance. As a fundamental pillar of CW’s mission, their reports serve to expose corruption and its ramifications on the lives of citizens, enabling the organisation to respond with targeted campaigns and interventions tailored to specific geographical and thematic concerns.
The 2025 data presented in the report revealed that the organisation received a staggering 2,222 corruption complaints, with 91% of these cases being corruption-related. This amounts to an alarming average of 185 reports per month. The majority of cases were submitted through CW's website (60%), followed by a dedicated WhatsApp channel (23%), with e-mail composing 16% of complaints.
According to the report, maladministration was the leading type of corruption, highlighting 408 cases, followed closely by fraud (330) and bribery/extortion (245). Other noted issues included procurement irregularities, misappropriation of resources, and abuse of power.
Sector analysis shows a worrying trend in reported cases, with police (300 reports) atop the list. Basic education followed with 221 complaints, while the business sector reported 219 cases. State-owned enterprises and various services, such as construction and traffic licensing, also featured prominently in the findings.
Breaking it down by institution, the provincial government led with a high volume of reports (811), while the South African Police Service, along with the education and health departments, were frequently cited. Notably, local government corruption accounted for 400 reports, while national government and state-owned enterprises collectively amassed 249 cases.
Geographically, Gauteng emerged as the epicentre of corruption in South Africa, reporting 993 cases — approximately 45% of all submissions — signalling severe governance challenges in urbanised areas.
Key highlights from 2025 included significant legal victories and advocacy initiatives. In August, the Constitutional Court confirmed the invalidity of a controversial appointment process for commissioners for the Commission for Gender Equality. Moreover, CW's Land Corruption in Africa team made a notable appearance in Parliament, advocating for a thorough review of the government’s farm worker equity schemes.
Innovation has also been a priority, as evidenced by the launch of CW’s Local Government Anti-Corruption Digital Technology Tool, which aims to improve transparency and accountability within local governments in the Eastern Cape.
As Ramafoko concluded, “We are all affected by corruption and we have a responsibility to turn the tide against it. In 2026, CW aims to develop its Vision 2030, outlining priorities for the next few years.”
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