South Africa’s Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane announced Wednesday the creation of an anti-corruption academy to train law enforcement officers in combating corruption.

Delivering the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s budget vote for 2024-25, Thembi Simelane outlined several key initiatives, including the establishment of new schools of prosecution, leadership, and business application, as well as a unique anti-corruption academy:

In our unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law, I am proud to announce the relaunch of the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College and the creation of the Anti-Corruption and Cyberforensic Academy, along with new Schools of Prosecution, Leadership, and Business Application. These initiatives mark significant progress in our effort to promote integrity and improve the skills of our legal professionals, the JCPS, and the public sector.

The Anti-Corruption Academy will specialise in training individuals in the latest methods of detecting, investigating, and preventing corruption, thus equipping our public servants and law enforcement officers with essential skills to combat corruption at all levels of government.

While further details of the academy are yet to be released, Simelane also announced plans for a smaller intake of young professionals into the ‘Aspirant Prosecutor Programme’ in 2025. The aspirant programme is designed for young professionals aiming to join the National Prosecuting Authority. The program had an intake of 700 in 2023 but did not take any in 2024 due to financial constraints. The creation of an Anti-Corruption Academy would therefore mean successful prosecutor interns would have to also undergo anti-corruption training.

The budget also includes plans to upgrade 68 courts for the next financial year to enhance and modernise South Africa’s judicial infrastructure. Moreover, Simelane, highlighting the department’s commitment to maximising access to justice for all, states that a symposium on access to justice will be convened in September 2024. This symposium will address impediments hampering access to justice and explore solutions. Further schemes have also been announced.

Corruption has been a persistent issue in South Africa, making the announcement of the Anti-Corruption Academy particularly significant. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 scored South Africa at 41/100, on a scale from 0 (“highly corrupt”) to 100 (“very clean”). This means South Africa ranks 83rd out of the 180 countries in the index, dropping two further points from last year’s score in addition to falling below the global average.

High-profile cases have highlighted the deep-seated corruption within the country’s political and economic systems. For example, in 2018, former South African president Zuma president was forced to step down after losing the support of the African National Congress political party amid allegations of corruption.

Simelane further states:

The Department, through its entities, will continue to pursue an anti-corruption agenda and ensure that a legal and regulatory framework is in place in the fight against anti-corruption