Implementing the Zondo Commission Recommendations

The document evaluates the implementation of the Zondo Commission's recommendations in South Africa, noting that while some legislative bills have been tabled, many executive promises remain vague and structural weaknesses in Parliament, the criminal justice system, and state-owned entities persist.

• Parliament has failed to meaningfully implement the Zondo Commission's recommendations on oversight and accountability, with most suggestions—such as appointing opposition committee chairs—rejected outright.
• The NPA Amendment Bill, tabled in August 2023, fails to address the appointment processes for the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) and other senior roles, nor does it strengthen the operational independence of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
• The draft General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill of 2023 proposes splitting the State Security Agency into domestic and foreign agencies, but civil society warns it expands surveillance while weakening oversight.
• Accountability for private sector actors involved in state capture has been minimal, with most firms and individuals emerging unscathed despite a few actions against Bain & Co. and McKinsey.
• The Public Procurement Bill is criticized for failing to align with Section 217 of the Constitution, relying too heavily on subordinate legislation, and lacking specific incentives for whistleblowers.
• Proposed amendments to the Public Service and Public Administration and Management Bills do not sufficiently insulate the public administration from patronage or implement the professionalisation vision of the NDP.
• The draft National State-Owned Enterprises Bill introduces a single shareholder model via the State Asset Management SOC but lacks clear appointment criteria or checks and balances for the holding company's board.
• A July 2023 Department of Justice discussion document on whistleblower protection proposes amending the Protected Disclosures Act and Witness Protection Act but rejects the recommendation to provide financial incentives to whistleblowers.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (2023). Implementing the Zondo Commission Recommendations. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231019_ZondoRecommendationsProgress_v0.4.pdf

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Implementing the Zondo Commission Recommendations. 2023. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231019_ZondoRecommendationsProgress_v0.4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Implementing the Zondo Commission Recommendations |date=October 2023 |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231019_ZondoRecommendationsProgress_v0.4.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{publicaffairsresearchinstitute2023implementing, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Implementing the Zondo Commission Recommendations}}, institution = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231019_ZondoRecommendationsProgress_v0.4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }