Zondo’s ‘extraordinary’ commission had global impact, says US academic

A world-acclaimed US academic, who has distinguished himself in teaching government leaders on strategies to turn around a culture of corruption, has lauded the work of the Zondo commission.

The two-day National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council’s dialogue held in Boksburg – aimed at building a corruption-free South Africa, attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Cabinet ministers and organs of civil society – was appointed by Ramaphosa last year, to oversee the implementation of the national anticorruption strategy.

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Professor Christopher Stone from Oxford University’s School of Government praised Zondo for having headed “an extraordinary commission” which, he said, has had a global impact.

“Zondo’s reports have displayed the important work undertaken. There’s a degree of public accountability that the commission has achieved in its observations and recommendations,” said Stone.

“The chief justice went out of his way to highlight – not just the corrupt acts – but people who stood up to corruption.”

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He said graft was “a huge problem for governments everywhere”.