Public trust in govt eroded during Covid-19, says new report
Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index has shown that little to no progress has been made in the fight against corruption in South Africa. The latest report scored South Africa at 44, which is below the crucial 50 point mark which indicates serious levels of corruption.
The country has been stuck at 44 for the past eight years.
Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis says the index highlights how corruption has impacted the ability of countries around the world, including South Africa, to manage their healthcare responses to Covid-19.
He says nearly half of countries surveyed have been stagnant on the index for almost a decade, suggesting a failure by governments to address the root causes of corruption.
“South Africa’s failure to move above the 50 points on the CPI for nearly ten years is a damning indictment of the extent of corruption and just how damaging it has been to the country.
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“Public trust in government has been further eroded during the Covid-19 pandemic, as blatant flouting of procurement processes has characterised the purchase of personal protective equipment, at a time when all of society needs to work together with integrity.”
Lewis says many countries, including those with higher scores on the index, have experienced corruption during the pandemic.
“As for South Africa’s ability to emerge from its stagnant position in the future, there are some signs that with the right attitude and commitment, and real changes to policies and processes, the opportunities for corruption could be reduced.”
