1 South African Civil Society Anti-Corruption initiatives Prepared for: Public Service and Administration Portfolio Committee Parliament, 26 March 2003 Prepared by: Hennie van Vuuren

2 Presentation outline Presentation outline: The potential contribution of CSO’s in fighting corruption. CSO-Anti-Corruption activity The Media Sectoral/Cross-Sectoral Initiatives Mobilising and monitoring as a CS challenge Corruption within NGO’s Key challenges facing CSO’s Recommendations

3 Introduction Civil Society: includes all not-for-profit organisations and the media SA has as many as Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) SA Civil Society vibrant - but faces challenge of debunking myth that fighting corruption is to be equated with questioning the integrity of our democracy.

4 The potential contribution of CSO’s in fighting corruption Promoting Accountability Blowing the whistle Promoting Service Delivery Sharing resources in the fight against corruption

5 CSO Anti-Corruption activity SA CSO’s which primarily focus on transparency and accountable governance are active in the following areas:  Advocacy  Research  Faith based organisations  Membership organisations  A silent majority of ‘other’ actors?

6 Advocacy The Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) Transparency South Africa (T-SA) Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) The Public Information & Monitoring Services (PIMS)- Idasa

7 Research Institute for Security Studies (ISS) The Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)

8 Faith based organisations National Religious Leaders Forum (NRLF) Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM)

9 Membership Organisations Trade Unions South African National NGO Coalition ( SANGOCO)

10 The silent majority of anti-corruption CSO’s? Many more CSO’s may be involved in anti- corruption activities than we are aware of. CORE/Idasa survey of ‘the State of Civil Society in South Africa’ notes that 62% of respondents run programmes and projects in an area loosely defined as “Transparency and Governance”. Need to develop organic database of CSOs’ active in combating corruption.

11 The Media SA fortunate to have a largely free press. Often criticised for a harbouring ‘political motives’ in exposing graft. Sensational nature of some stories may influence public opinion. Survey: Investigative journalists expose 8.4% of corruption cases. Press are reporting good news stories as well. Journalists under pressure from both politicians and growing corporate nature of media industry. Need to develop capacity of journalists to expose corruption.

12 Sectoral Initiatives Has the potential to be a catalyst for developing a network of CSO’s active in combating corruption This goal has not been fully realised to date. Cross - Sectoral Initatives Cross - Sectoral Initatives National: National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) Provincial: Eastern Cape Network Against Corruption (NAC)- (defunct)

13 Mobilising and Monitoring - a CS challenge Capacity is required for civil society to effectively monitor corruption. Need to raise awareness amongst CSO’s of the role they can play in combating corruption thereby building a broad-based CS anti- corruption network.

14 Corruption within CSO’s A cause for concern although often not highlighted in the media CSO’s are regulated by the requirements of the Non Profit Organisations (NPO) Act as well voluntary codes such as the SANGOCO code of ethics According to a PSC/T-SA/KPMG survey: - 88% of CSO’s surveyed have a Code of Conduct. - 72% of CSO’s have a reporting mechanism to protect employees who report ethical or legal violations

15 Key CSO Challenges the loss of leadership skills from CS to business and government has been severe the diversion of donor resources from CSO’s to bilateral government to government agreements as well as a general reduction in the proportion of aid monies flowing to post- apartheid SA corruption does not always feature as top priority for all CSO’s.

16 Recommendations Developing CS Political Will Knowing who is doing what Building CSO capacity Building CSO Anti-corruption capacity Promoting Internal Accountability Growing the networks Monitoring implementation What next – the role of research

17 South African Civil Society Anti-Corruption initiatives Prepared for: Public Service and Administration Portfolio Committee Parliament, 26 March 2003 Prepared by: Hennie van Vuuren