Zero tolerance

A term commonly used by organizations including companies, civil society organizations and international development agencies to signal a firm stance against corruption.

“Zero tolerance” implies that an organization will make the maximum effort to prevent corruption, as well as to hold any individual(s) involved in corruption to account. The term is promoted as a means to elevate the seriousness of the issue and eliminate any ambiguity around the acceptability of different forms of corruption.

A zero-tolerance stance may however have the adverse effect of discouraging reporting of corruption or appearing to set an unrealistic goal. For this reason, it is sometimes considered a contentious term. Some commentators have argued instead for a more realistic and scaled response to corruption. In this vein, zero tolerance would be enforced through proportionate risk management and viewed as an aspirational goal and not a target. Furthermore, zero tolerance for corruption should not be misconstrued as zero tolerance for corruption risk, since risks can be managed and mitigated, particularly if assessed properly through a corruption risk assessment.

TS

Zondo Commission

A public inquiry established in South Africa in 2018 to investigate allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector, presided over by Judge Raymond Zondo.

The commission was created on the recommendation of a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in 2016, State of Capture, which detailed her investigation into improper relationships between president Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family (see Zuma, Jacob case study). The commission inter-viewed almost 300 witnesses over a three-year period and compiled its findings into a five-part report published in 2022.

EDB

Zuma, Jacob and the Guptas: case study

State capture in post-apartheid South Africa involving the president and the misallocation of government resources.

Three Indian-born brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta – are widely regarded as key individuals behind the “state capture” of post-apartheid South Africa. During the presidency of Jacob Zuma (2009– 18), the Guptas used their contacts in the highest echelons of South African politics to win lucrative state contracts and heavily influence political appointments.