A TOTAL of R5,4 billion that was stolen during state capture has been returned to the state.
This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who on Monday, 14 August, outlined the progress made since the State Capture report was finalised in 2022.
This week marks two years since the State Capture Commission held its final hearing.
Ramaphosa said the State Capture Commission made 205 recommendations of criminal investigation and possible prosecution of people and companies implicated in evidence.
He said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks set up an integrated task force to co-ordinate investigations and prosecutions.
"There are currently nine cases in court, involving 41 accused people and 12 companies. Significant progress has also been made in recovering the proceeds of crime.
"Freezing orders to the value of R13 billion have been granted to the NPA. A total of R5,4 billion has been traced and returned to the state. The South African Revenue Service has collected unpaid taxes as a result of evidence before the State Capture Commission," said Ramaphosa.
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Ramaphosa said corruption was one of the greatest challenges confronting the country.
"State capture was the orchestrated theft of billions of rand through the capture of state institutions. Our country is grateful to the actions of many South Africans who, acting as individuals and through various organisations across society, exposed state capture and in many ways ensured that decisive steps are taken to end it," he said.
The commission led by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo found that the government's procurement system was the main site for the theft and abuse of state resources.
It found that a lot of corruption took place in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) with large budgets.
Ramaphosa said the State-Owned Enterprises Bill, which is in the pipeline, will align the process for the appointment of SOE boards and executive management with the recommendations of the commission.
"This law will improve oversight, transparency and accountability of SOEs," he said.
The president said while progress is being made, state capture would only be defeated if all South Africans worked together to rid the society of corruption in all its forms.
