Question NW2987 to the President of the Republic
18 October 2022 - NW2987
Steenhuisen, Mr JH to ask the President of the Republic
On Monday, 29 August 2022, he appointed a council to advise on corruption and how to tackle it, titled the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC), what (a) are the specific terms of reference of the specified council, (b) total amount will the advisory council cost the taxpayer and (c) are the reasons that he needs a council to give recommendations on the recommendations given by Chief Justice R Zondo; (2) whether the recommendations of the NACAC will be any more binding than the recommendations of the Report on The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State; if not, would the money spent on the NACAC not be better spent on capacitating the National Prosecuting Authority; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
The National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) was established as part of the institutional arrangements contained in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), which was developed through an extensive and inclusive participatory process.
The establishment of the council is a reflection of government’s commitment to work with all sections of society to fight corruption, promote integrity in the work of government and advancing Priority 1 of the Medium Term Strategic Framework – building a capable, ethical and developmental state.
The specific terms of reference for the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) are as follows:
- Advise on the effective implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) by government, civil society and the private sector.
- Advise key role-players on the overarching thrust and six pillars of the NACS.
- Advise on the strengthening of South Africa’s anti-corruption architecture.
- Host the National Anti-Corruption Summit(s), bringing together government, civil society, business and academia to set the country’s anti-corruption agenda and evaluate progress in the implementation of the NACS; and
- Advise on public awareness about corruption in all its facets.
The NACAC is an advisory council to the President. The Presidency has budgeted for operational costs that may arise.
Given its terms of reference, mandate and broad representivity, the NACAC has a valuable contribution to make to the consideration and implementation of the recommendations of the State Capture Commission.