PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday that the recently established Investigating Directorate (ID) will now be a permanent anti-corruption agency within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute state capture and other significant corruption cases.
Ramaphosa was addressing the nation on Sunday to outline the steps the government is taking to implement the State Capture Commission’s recommendations.
“We established the NPA Investigating Directorate to prosecute state capture and other significant corruption cases. And now, to further strengthen existing anti-corruption capabilities, the Investigating Directorate will be established as a permanent entity within the NPA,” said Ramaphosa.
“As a result of this work, the Investigating Directorate that we established within the National Prosecuting Authority has to date enrolled 26 cases, declared 89 investigations and 165 accused persons have appeared in court for alleged state capture-related offences.”
Earlier in October, the president received the amended version of the final report on the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture.
Ramaphosa has already advised the speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, that he would be submitting his response to parliament.
He said the Commission made detailed recommendations about the establishment of an independent Public Procurement Anti-Corruption Agency.
It also recommended the establishment of a Permanent Anti-Corruption Commission that would have oversight over both Parliament and the Executive.
“Our law enforcement agencies have, to date, been granted freezing or preservation orders to the value of R12.9 billion,” said Ramaphosa.
“A total of R2.9 billion has been recovered and returned to the affected entities and SARS has collected R4.8 billion in unpaid taxes arising from the work of the Commission.”
Ramaphosa said the State Capture Commission made several detailed recommendations with respect to procurement reform, “which we support and accept, and are working to put into effect.”
“The Commission found that the appointment and removal of board members and senior executives in state-owned enterprises was one of the key causes of state capture,” he said.
He added that those who are involved in corruption, or who are even thinking of it, must know that all the instruments of the state will work to bring them to book.
“We look forward to the deliberations as we take forward the recommendations of the commission. We are emerging from a dark and difficult period.”
Ramaphosa said the corruption that was perpetrated during State Capture was a crime against the people of South Africa.
“Corruption is a betrayal of our democracy and an assault on the institutions that we established together to advance the values of our Constitution and the interests of our people,” he said.
“The money that was stolen robbed our people of resources that should have led to the development of our country and improved livelihoods.”
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