'We can’t be led by people who are forever implicated in corruption scandals'

CAPE TOWN - Corruption Watch said it was disappointing that after 30 years of democracy, South Africa was sliding into a tale of rising inequality and injustice.

South Africa on Monday emerged at its lowest level on the global Corruption Perception Index, ranking only 83rd out of 180 countries.

According to Transparency International’s global corruption barometer, 64% of South Africans thought corruption had increased in the last 12 months.

With a score of only 41 out of 100, South Africa’s Corruption Perception Index has never been as low.

Along with Gabon and Liberia, South Africa has fallen to a new low and categorised as a "flawed democracy".

Just a week away from the State of the Nation Address, Corruption Watch said it measured progress against the promises made to capacitate key institutions, such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

And with a national election looming, the organisation’s Melusi Ncala said citizens also had their role to play in stemming corruption.

"Citizens really need to elect people who are upright. We can’t be led by people who are forever implicated and embroiled in corruption scandals as we currently do. This is from the presidency, minister level, parliamentarians - it’s all rotten."

Botswana has emerged as the least corrupt in the southern African region, with an index of 59.