Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
14 July 2025 | 14:52 CAT

📸 Citizens take to the streets with a clear message: “Corruption is killing us.” As calls grow louder for an independent Chapter 9 anti-corruption commission, the pressure mounts on government to act.

Amid ongoing failures in South Africa’s anti-corruption mechanisms, prominent Advocate Paul Hoffman is calling for urgent political support to establish an independent Chapter 9 anti-corruption commission. The proposal is gaining traction, especially following damning revelations about political interference and institutional inefficiencies.

Speaking on Radio Islam International, Hoffman underscored the constitutional shortcomings that have plagued the country’s fight against corruption since 2011, when the Constitutional Court found that replacing the Scorpions with the Hawks did not meet constitutional standards.

“What the court actually wanted,” said Hoffman, “was a specialized body that only deals with corruption, staffed by trained experts, and completely independent from the executive.”

The Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which remain central to current anti-corruption efforts, have failed to deliver results. “We haven’t seen any orange overalls for those fingered by the Zondo Commission,” Hoffman noted, highlighting the ineffectiveness of current structures. He attributes this to the fact that both institutions fall under executive control, compromising their independence and functionality.

Hoffman cited the controversial case where Police Minister Senzo Mchunu allegedly removed political killing dockets from KwaZulu-Natal and left them languishing in Pretoria. “That type of interference is exactly what the Constitutional Court warned against,” he said.

The proposed Chapter 9 anti-corruption commission, backed by two bills introduced by the Democratic Alliance, would have the power to “prevent, combat, investigate, detect, and prosecute serious corruption and organised crime,” and would enjoy secure tenure and guaranteed resources—critical elements identified in the court’s ruling.

Despite the urgency, Hoffman expressed frustration with the lack of political will. “It looks to me as if the President is not interested in the idea,” he said. While the ANC holds 40% of the parliamentary vote, its support is crucial for the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution and establish the commission.

Hoffman warns that failure to act could see a return to the Constitutional Court: “That ought to bring the ANC to its senses.” Until then, South Africa remains locked in a battle between political reluctance and the constitutional imperative to root out corruption.

“Independence and impartiality,” Hoffman concluded, “are what the Constitution demands. It’s time we deliver.”

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Advocate Paul Hoffman.