DA moots new Chapter 9 institution to probe large-scale corruption
The Democratic Alliance (ANC) and civil society organisation Accountability Now will introduce two Private Members Bills to Parliament for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission.
The organisations made the announcement on Thursday.
The bills are proposing amendments to Sections 181, 192, and 194 of the Constitution to enable the creation of another Chapter 9 institution.
"The main objective of the proposed Anti-Corruption Commission will be to investigate, amongst other functions, high-level corruption cases,” said the DA's Glynnis Breytenbach.
“This independent institution is long overdue, as the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) is not sufficiently independent, and the National Prosecuting Authority is currently besieged by systemic challenges.”
She said the commission will not be in competition with the NPA, Hawks, or the Investigating Directorate, but to supplement them as an independent body.
It wants the new body to answer to the courts and work hand-in-hand with the other crime-fighting bodies.
The model for the commission will include commissioners, headed by a retired judge.
"I do not believe that simply bolstering the resources of financially and otherwise of the Hawks, NPA or investigating directorate is the answer because that is all short-lived," said Breytenbach.
"We then fund the money and I understand the difficulties of resourcing and funding and I know the police are severely under-resourced and the NPA as well, but I do believe there is funding.”
Accountability Now's Advocate Paul Hoffman said the organisation will be assisting with all the research for the proposal.
He said the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa in February of a similar body accounting to Parliament was a step in the right direction and shows the government is aware of a need for an effective corruption-busting unit.
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