State Capture Commission of Enquiry Hearings During Covid-19

A coalition of over twenty civil society organisations, the Civil Society Working Group on State Capture, has called on the Zondo Commission to adapt its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group expresses concern over the lack of public information since the March 2020 lockdown and the potential for increased corruption through emergency procurement. They recommend the release of an interim report, the use of virtual platforms for hearings, and regular progress updates to ensure the Commission meets its March 2021 deadline.

• The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture expresses concern that the Commission has shared minimal information with the public regarding its activities since the March 2020 lockdown, noting that the website only contained a directive from 16 April 2020 postponing April hearings.
• The Working Group warns that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns may create new opportunities for powerful networks to abuse state resources, specifically through emergency procurement processes that could lead to patronage, corruption, and ongoing state capture.
• To ensure the Commission completes its work by its March 2021 deadline, the Working Group proposes six specific actions: releasing an interim report, reconvening hearings with health precautions, adapting rules to allow virtual platforms, using secure live-streamed virtual platforms, regularly publishing information on the website, and providing regular progress updates.
• The Working Group argues that the release of an interim report is urgently needed to facilitate accountability and support the work of law enforcement and state anti-corruption agencies.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (2020). State Capture Commission of Enquiry Hearings During Covid-19. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Civil-Society-Letter-to-the-Zondo-Commission_27-May-2020.pdf

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. State Capture Commission of Enquiry Hearings During Covid-19. 2020. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Civil-Society-Letter-to-the-Zondo-Commission_27-May-2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=State Capture Commission of Enquiry Hearings During Covid-19 |date=27 May 2020 |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Civil-Society-Letter-to-the-Zondo-Commission_27-May-2020.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{publicaffairsresearchinstitute2020state, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{State Capture Commission of Enquiry Hearings During Covid-19}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Civil-Society-Letter-to-the-Zondo-Commission_27-May-2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }