DA's Breytenbach says her bill to establish anti-corruption commission not meant to replace existing justice agencies

CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach said her bill to establish an independent, anti-corruption commission as a Chapter 9 institution under the Constitution was neither intended to usurp nor duplicate the functions of existing justice agencies. 

Instead, she said that such a body could help to bolster anti-corruption efforts, in particular with the prosecution of high-level organised crime. 

But not all her political opponents agreed, saying it’s an unnecessary body that could create another financial burden on the state.

Breytenbach said that her Constitution Twenty-First Amendment Bill would create an independent body with security of tenure that would have its budget determined by Treasury and report only to Parliament. 

The anti-corruption commission’s job will be to prosecute serious corruption and high-level organised crime.

"Remove that tier from the auspices of the NPA and allow them more space to get on with the already huge job they already have to deal with all the other crimes that are their responsibility."

But the MK Party said it doesn’t support the proposal. 

The party’s chief whip, Mzwanele Manyi, said it would be "total madness" to create another corruption-busting body when, instead, existing institutions should be bolstered. 

"The elephant in the room is just the incompetence of the national director of public prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi. What we should, in fact, be doing is an inquiry into her fitness to hold office."

Justice committee chairperson, Xola Nqola, said that a date would be set to discuss the bill in more depth and decide whether to take it to the next phase of public participation. 

Breytenbach has also tabled a second bill to establish a cyber commission to advise, monitor and establish cyber security capabilities in the public sector. 

In time, Breytenbach proposes that it replaces the Information Regulator.