Independent anti-corruption body proposed in South Africa — Daily Maverick
In South Africa, resetting and renewing the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) will not solve the problems of organized crime and grand corruption, according to a Daily Maverick columnist. In his view, the country needs a separate anti-corruption body with structural and operational independence, specially trained staff and guaranteed resources.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority head, Andy Mothibi, who has held the post since February 2026, proposed to “reset and renew” Idac. On September 11, he took part in The Gathering 2026 discussion dedicated to crime in the country.
Idac’s status within the prosecution service
The author argues that the main problem is Idac’s position within the National Prosecuting Authority. In his assessment, this model does not meet the independence requirements formulated by South Africa’s Constitutional Court in the Glenister cases. He notes that these requirements provide for a single specialized body independent of the executive, with adequate staffing and resources.
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The column states that under Section 179 of South Africa’s Constitution, the justice minister bears final responsibility for the National Prosecuting Authority. As the author writes, the minister can veto prosecution policy, while the authority’s director-general is responsible for the finances of the entire prosecution service, including Idac. In the columnist’s view, these powers make it impossible to ensure the full independence of an anti-corruption unit within the prosecution service.
Proposal for a new body
The author also critically assesses the Hawks unit’s capacity to counter grand corruption and organized crime. He refers to the work of the Madlanga commission and the National Assembly’s ad hoc committee, which are examining complaints made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The official voiced them on July 6, 2025.
As a possible way forward, the author proposes that parliament discuss the so-called Breytenbach bills, private legislative initiatives introduced by the Democratic Alliance’s chief parliamentary whip. According to the description in the column, they provide for a new anti-corruption body modeled on the institutions in Chapter Nine of South Africa’s Constitution, which could also counter organized crime.
