Johannesburg Corruption

Cityscape, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa / Image via Flickr: South African Tourism

Johannesburg still regarded as the ‘most corrupt city’ in South Africa

Nationally, reports of corruption in schools, health centres and licensing departments, also grew.

Johannesburg Corruption

Cityscape, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa / Image via Flickr: South African Tourism

Almost half of all reported corruptive dealings in South Africa emanate from Gauteng, home to Johannesburg and Tshwane.

This was found to be the case by Corruption Watch – South Africa’s leading civil society organisation using advocacy to fight corruption – as part of its latest report. While Johannesburg has topped the list for quite some time – largely due to its burgeoning population – an annual increase in reports doesn’t necessarily mean that local government is failing.

Corruption Watch releases Trends report

The data published by Corruption Watch relies solely on reported information. An increase in reports potentially denotes two trends; firstly, that corruption is indeed on the rise in Joburg and, secondly, that Corruption Watch’s work in the metro is empowering residents to report cases of bribery. The report cited:

“Gauteng remains the province which generates the highest number of reports of corruption. We attribute this year’s increased figure of 47.3% to last year’s 39.8%, to greater population density than other provinces, and our footprint, though national, is largely in this province because of our ongoing activities.

The City of Johannesburg accounts for 27.5% of reports of corruption received.”

Johannesburg bucks the national trend, SAPS bribery increases

Bribery amongst members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the highest reported mode of corruption. This figure has increased by almost 3% over the past year and currently stands at 9.2% of all reports received.

Speaking on the above findings, particularly related to bribery within law enforcement, David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch, noted:

“If we are to tackle corruption, and many other social ills like gender-based violence it is necessary that there be trust in the police.

But the police have to earn that trust.  By providing a mechanism for accountability we are hoping to contribute to building trust between the communities and the police.”

The Analysis of Corruption Trends (ACT) report, which relied on information from over a thousand whistle blowers, noted that there was a national decrease in corruption in the first half of 2019. The City of Johannesburg, however, bucked the trend by demonstrating a rise.

Nationally, reports of corruption in schools, health centres and licensing departments, also grew. This was offset by a noticeably decrease in municipal corruption.

The Northern Cape, North West and the Free State had the lowest reports of corruption – which either indicates that bribery is indeed lower in these areas or that residents are apprehensive about reporting cases of venality.