Tackling the Multi-Headed Dragon: Evaluating Prospects for a Single Anti-Corruption Agency in South Africa

This research paper by Lala Camerer of the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the debate over whether South Africa should improve its existing anti-corruption bodies or establish a single, centralized anti-corruption agency.

• In October 1997, the Interdepartmental Committee on Corruption recommended that the Cabinet consider creating an independent, centralized anti-corruption agency modeled after those in Botswana, Singapore, Hong Kong, and New South Wales, Australia. The committee suggested both a feasibility study for the agency and the rationalization of existing bodies, as well as the creation of the agency with appropriate legislation and resources.
• Despite Cabinet approval of the Interdepartmental Committee's proposals on 23 September 1998, a Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference in mid-November 1998 indicated that the issues remained unresolved. Deputy President Thabo Mbeki highlighted that South Africa has at least ten structures tasked with counteracting corruption according to their constitutional mandates, leading to a debate on whether to enhance these existing bodies or replace them with a single agency.

APA

Camerer, L. (n.d.). Tackling the Multi-Headed Dragon: Evaluating Prospects for a Single Anti-Corruption Agency in South Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/tackling-the-multi-headed-dragon-evaluating-prospects-for-a-single-anti-corruption-agency-in-south-africa

Chicago

Camerer, Lala. Tackling the Multi-Headed Dragon: Evaluating Prospects for a Single Anti-Corruption Agency in South Africa. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/tackling-the-multi-headed-dragon-evaluating-prospects-for-a-single-anti-corruption-agency-in-south-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Camerer |first1=Lala |title=Tackling the Multi-Headed Dragon: Evaluating Prospects for a Single Anti-Corruption Agency in South Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/papers/tackling-the-multi-headed-dragon-evaluating-prospects-for-a-single-anti-corruption-agency-in-south-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{camererndtackling, author = {Camerer, Lala}, title = {{Tackling the Multi-Headed Dragon: Evaluating Prospects for a Single Anti-Corruption Agency in South Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/papers/tackling-the-multi-headed-dragon-evaluating-prospects-for-a-single-anti-corruption-agency-in-south-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }