Corruption - President Gokhool: "Where are the big sharks?"

On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day celebrated on December 9th, the President of the Republic, Dharambeer Gokhool, made a strong appeal for a more effective fight against financial crimes. This statement was made during a public conversation organized by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) in Réduit. "The small fish slip through the net... but where are the big sharks?" he questioned. The President expressed his understanding of the public's frustration: "Why are they not brought to justice?"

Dharambeer Gokhool praised the crucial role of institutions such as the Audit Office, the FIU, the FCC, the BOM, the DPP, the FSC, the MRA, among others, while acknowledging that the fight against corruption remains incomplete. He emphasized the need to invest in better technologies, skills, and investigative mechanisms to keep pace with the rapid evolution of financial crimes.

The President also highlighted the importance of the future National Crime Office announced by the government, along with upcoming legislation on party financing. According to him, the introduction of an Ethics and Integrity Commissioner should strengthen transparency principles in both the public and private sectors.

On her part, Professor Thulisile Madonsela, director of the Centre for Social Justice at the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University, emphasized the deeply unjust nature of corruption. "Corruption is an injustice because it prevents justice for all. The corrupt person receives what they do not deserve, while the honest person loses what they have earned," she explained. She added, "Whether it's licenses or state contracts, corruption, as a financial crime, destroys the resources needed to build a society that upholds dignity and creates opportunities for everyone."