South Africa has hit rock bottom in the 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), scoring a measly 41 and marking its lowest ranking since its debut on the index.
South Africa reacts plummets to record low in 2023 corruption index
This score isn’t just a number; it mirrors the country’s increasing struggles with public sector corruption and paints a grim picture for its global perception.
According to Transparency International’s latest release, South Africa’s ranking has slipped down two points from its previous score, now aligning it with countries like Burkina Faso, Kosovo, and Vietnam.
The CPI, a measure of perceived public sector corruption, assesses 180 countries, and unfortunately, South Africa finds itself on the wrong side of the global average this year.
The CPI isn’t just about numbers; it’s a reflection of perceptions from experts and businesspeople, not actual instances of corruption.
This nuance is crucial, as it shows the country’s international image is taking a hit, categorizing it among flawed democracies. Melusi Ncala from Corruption Watch put it bluntly: the government’s efforts to combat corruption are failing to make an impact.
Now, let’s talk about what’s contributing to this nosedive.
Allegations of corruption aren’t just whispers in the corridors of power; they are loud and clear. Take the case of Paul Mashatile, South Africa’s Deputy President, embroiled in controversy with his son-in-law’s extravagant real estate purchases and a failed social housing project with a multi-million-rand debt.
This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a pattern where high-ranking officials are implicated in corruption, with little to no consequences.
In response to the CPI report, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya highlighted the efforts of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration in rebuilding law enforcement agencies and prosecuting state capture and corruption cases.
The administration claims significant progress, including the recovery of billions of rand and the conviction of hundreds of government and private sector officials involved in corruption since 2019.
How is the 2023 Corruption Perception Index formulated?
However, the CPI paints a broader picture, not just for South Africa but globally. With an unchanged global average score of 43 for the 12th consecutive year, most countries are showing little to no progress in tackling public sector corruption.
The top performers, like Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand, starkly contrast with countries like Somalia, Venezuela, and South Sudan, languishing at the bottom with alarmingly low scores.
So, what exactly is the CPI, and how does it arrive at these rankings?
The Corruption Perceptions Index, developed by Transparency International, assesses the perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries worldwide.
It relies on a combination of surveys and assessments from experts and businesspeople to calculate each country’s score on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
The methodology is designed to provide a snapshot of the relative degree of corruption by ranking countries from all over the globe.
The credibility of the data collected is backed by its extensive use and recognition as a primary global indicator of public sector corruption.