Free SA has launched a bold public campaign asking the question many South Africans are quietly contemplating: Do we still trust commissions of inquiry? The question comes in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement of a commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption involving Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Free SA had previously requested just such a commission of inquiry, but the Foundation has noted the sentiments and responses of their own members, as well as the results of a recent survey, indicating that only 22% of South Africans have trust in the South African police service. This low trust environment which has been created within the judicial branch of government informs Free SA’s updated positioning on this matter.
“Our members feel strongly that commissions of inquiry have become elaborate theatre – lavishly funded performances with no closing act,” said Reuben Coetzer, spokesperson for Free SA. “South Africans are weary of watching inquiry after inquiry, only to see the implicated promoted, protected, or quietly forgotten.”
While commissions of inquiry are constitutionally valid mechanisms to uncover truth, Free SA argues that they have become tools of political deflection rather than instruments of justice.
This is not the first time South Africans have been asked to place their faith in such processes. The Zondo Commission into State Capture, which cost taxpayers over R1 billion, made headlines for its sweeping revelations, but led to few meaningful prosecutions. Similarly, the Marikana Commission, which investigated the tragic killing of 34 miners by police in 2012, yielded minimal accountability for those in positions of power. With trust in state institutions already at historic lows, the President’s announcement risks reinforcing public scepticism instead of rebuilding credibility.
Free SA believes that transparency, justice, and meaningful consequences must replace the current approach of costly conversations followed by minimal actionable steps against those implicated. Public funds should not be used to stage inquiries whose recommendations gather dust on presidential desks.
“The credibility crisis is not just about one minister or one commission,” Coetzer continued. “It’s about the erosion of democratic trust. We don’t need more commissions, we need action. We need prosecutions, resignations, recoveries of stolen funds, and above all, leadership that respects the intelligence of its people.”
Free SA is calling on the South African public to reject the hollow symbolism of yet another inquiry. Instead, it is urging citizens to demand:
- Immediate suspension of implicated officials pending investigation.
- Investigation at the highest level without further delay.
- Full transparency on the cost, scope, and outcomes of previous commissions.
- Clear timelines for implementation of recommendations from past inquiries.
Free SA also encourages South Africans to join the growing number of voices calling for genuine accountability. Those who would like to add their voices to this campaign can do so here.
“This is about restoring dignity to democracy,” concluded Coetzer. “If no one is ever held to account, commissions become little more than cover-ups with footnotes. South Africans deserve better. We deserve a justice system that works, not one that acts.”
