Cape Chamber welcomes news of a new permanent Investigating Directorate against Corruption (ID) within the National Prosecuting Authority

Economists sometimes disagree on the fundamental rules underpinning business life, but there’s one rule near the top of every list – the rule of law.

Without dependable law enforcement and criminal justice, South Africa is unlikely to attract the massive investment needed to fulfill government’s projected economic recovery. 

For this reason the Cape Chamber welcomes news of a new permanent Investigating Directorate against Corruption (ID) within the National Prosecuting Authority.

The ID has been operating as a temporary unit for the past five years, but is now permanent as per a government gazette notice on August 19. Its mandate is to investigate high-level corruption of the kind that cast an ominous shadow across South Africa during the Gupta years, and which continues, many say, to erode the country’s prospects of future success .

While permanent ID status is a welcome addition to the crime-fighting landscape, recent events suggest it will take more than a new directorate to turn back the tide. Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa has flagged the urgent need for better police intelligence to tackle criminal syndicates that continue to wreak havoc across society. He highlighted the recent upsurge in extortion cases adding yet another layer of trauma to communities already punch-drunk from lawless behaviour. 

“I think crime intelligence is zero -- that's another area government would have to invest in to assist the police ministry,” Holomisa told TimesLive with reference to an extortion racket that closed down businesses in Mthatha. “If they want to nip this in the bud, it would have to concentrate on intelligence. The public would tell them who is doing what and it depends on how they access that intelligence to lead to arrests.”

A permanent ID is at least a first step towards improving the country’s intelligence capability.

However civil society has a big part to play by ensuring criminal acts are reported wherever possible. We should also demand police are properly resourced to do their jobs.

An abiding faith in the rule of law will enable society to refocus attention on entrenching other rules underpinning our economic lives.

John Lawson
CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry