Pretoria – The presidency has pushed again in opposition to recommendations that suggestions of the State Capture Commission had been largely ignored and as a substitute launched an in depth account of actions taken in that regard.
The Presidency on Monday, 28 July 2025, launched the most recent progress report on the implementation of actions arising from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s response to the suggestions of the State Capture Commission, which exhibits vital progress throughout each accountability measures and institutional reforms.
“President Ramaphosa has additionally submitted the report back to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,” mentioned Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President.
“The report, masking the interval as much as the tip of Quarter 4 2024/25, reveals that of the 60 actions recognized within the President’s October 2022 Response Plan, 48% are full or considerably full, 23% are on observe and 29% are delayed however receiving consideration.”
Major achievements in accountability
Criminal Justice Progress
The Presidency revealed that the Integrated Task Force, led by the National Prosecuting Authority, was actively implementing 218 legal investigation suggestions throughout a number of state seize focus areas.
“As of March 2025, 21% of those circumstances had been both finalised or enrolled for trial. Just over half had been underneath energetic investigation,” the Presidency mentioned.
“Several high-profile circumstances are scheduled for trial by way of 2025-2026, together with issues associated to the Free State Asbestos Removal Case, SA Express, Bosasa-related circumstances, and Transnet contracts.
“Four state capture-related circumstances have already concluded with responsible verdicts.”
Asset Recovery Success
The Presidency mentioned the federal government has achieved exceptional success in recovering stolen public funds, with whole recoveries now reaching practically R11 billion, a considerable enhance from the R2.9 billion reported in October 2022.
“This consists of R2.9 billion recovered by the Special Investigating Unit and R8 billion by the Asset Forfeiture Unit,” mentioned the Presidency.
“Additionally, belongings value R10.6 billion are at the moment underneath restraint or preservation orders, indicating vital further recoveries to return.
“Major recoveries embrace settlements from ABB (R2.55 billion), McKinsey (R1.12 billion), and SAP (R1.16 billion).”
Institutional reforms to forestall state seize
Law Enforcement Strengthening
The National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act of 2024 established the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) as a everlasting entity with enhanced police powers and legal investigation capabilities.
IDAC formally commenced operations in August 2024.
Financial Crime Combat Measures
The Presidency mentioned South Africa has carried out complete anti-money laundering reforms by way of the General Laws Amendment Act of 2022, addressing all of the deficiencies recognized by the Financial Action Task Force.
“Among different issues, these measures have resulted in a 40% enhance in compliance with anti-money laundering necessities between 2023 and 2024,” the Presidency mentioned.
Public Procurement Transformation
The Public Procurement Act of 2024 represents a elementary transformation of South Africa’s procurement panorama, consolidating beforehand fragmented techniques right into a single regulatory framework designed to reinforce transparency and fight corruption.
Intelligence Services Reform
The General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act, enacted in March 2025, disestablished the State Security Agency and created two separate entities – the South African Intelligence Service (international intelligence) and the South African Intelligence Agency (home intelligence) – restoring the pre-2009 construction and strengthening oversight mechanisms.
Public Administration Professionalisation
The authorities has made substantial progress in professionalising the general public service by way of the National Framework for Public Sector Professionalisation.
Key measures embrace necessary way of life audits for senior officers and provide chain personnel, with 138 departments implementing these audits by 2024.
Corporate accountability measures
“The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission has accomplished evaluations of 10 personal sector entities implicated in state seize, with six investigations ongoing,” revealed the Presidency.
The National Treasury imposed a 10-year ban on Bain & Co from doing enterprise with the South African state, working from September 2022 to September 2032.
Professional our bodies have taken disciplinary motion in opposition to implicated professionals, together with the everlasting disbarment of a chartered accountant by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, with a R6.1 million advantageous.
Legislative achievements
The Presidency mentioned a number of important items of laws have been enacted to handle state seize vulnerabilities, which embrace:
- Electoral Matters Amendment Act (Act 14 of 2024): Criminalises donations to political events in expectation of contracts or affect
- Judicial Matters Amendment Act (Act 15 of 2023): Introduces company legal responsibility for failure to forestall corruption
- ·Companies Second Amendment Act (Act 17 of 2024): Extends closing dates for director delinquency proceedings
- ·General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act (Act 37 of 2024): Reforms intelligence providers construction and oversight
Looking forward: 2025-2026 Priorities
President Ramaphosa emphasised that whereas substantial progress has been made, the work continues.
Key priorities for the approaching 12 months embrace:
- accelerating high-profile prosecutions and bringing new circumstances to court docket;
- finalising the Whistleblower Protection Bill for presentation to Parliament;
- finalising the National State Enterprises Bill as a part of SOE governance reform;
- finishing SARS Act amendments primarily based on Nugent Commission suggestions;
- finalising anti-corruption structure proposals into consideration by the Executive.
“The progress outlined on this report demonstrates our unwavering dedication to making sure that these chargeable for state seize are held accountable and that the systemic weaknesses that enabled this assault on our democracy are completely addressed,” mentioned President Ramaphosa.
“We have recovered practically R11 billion in stolen public funds, strengthened our legislation enforcement capability and carried out complete reforms throughout authorities.
“However, our work is way from full. We stay dedicated to the complete implementation of the State Capture Commission’s suggestions and to rebuilding public belief in our establishments.”
The President emphasised that the effectiveness of those reforms will in the end be measured by their means to forestall future occurrences of state seize and restore public belief in state establishments.
The full progress report, together with detailed annexures on implementation standing, new laws, court docket circumstances, and asset recoveries, is out there on the Presidency web site.
