The ‘silent witness’: understanding the reluctance to report corruption in South Africa

Abstract

Several reports from anti-corruption organisations, widespread media coverage on the struggles faced by whistleblowers and evidence from the Zondo Commission suggest that there is broad reluctance among South African citizens to report corruption. This phenomenon of the ‘silent witness’ is examined in relation to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2020–2030, which aims to foster transparency and public accountability in the country. A strategic objective of the NACS is to “cultivate and foster a culture of reporting in which citizens understand the negative impact of corruption and where individuals are empowered to report any devious or corrupt activities they become aware of.”1 Data from the 2023 round of the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) was used to analyze public willingness to report corruption. It shows that only about half the adult population expressed an intention to alert authorities if they encountered corrupt practices. What accounts for this reluctance? The aim of this policy brief is to examine the barriers to corruption reporting, and to provide actionable suggestions that can help encourage people to report corruption.