Hon. Ronald Lamola MP, South Africa’s Minister of Justice has endorsed the South African Regional Centre of Excellence in Integrity (SARCOE) and has agreed to become one of its first patrons, along with leading figures including Adv Shamila Batohi (National Director of Public Prosecutions) and Professor Thuli Madonsela (a former Public Protector of South Africa).

This move creates the opportunity for African nations to create and deliver solutions to the scourge of corruption that plagues the African continent.

On 27th July 2022, SARCOE held the first groundbreaking Counter Corruption Summit, bringing together thought leaders from across Africa and the Globe to discuss solutions to corruption described as a “plague upon South Africa and across the African continent.” 

The outcome from this conclave was the unanimously adopted Declaration that there is a compelling and pressing need to immediately establish the South African Regional Centre of Excellence in Integrity. (SARCOE)

In an open letter giving ministerial authority for SARCOE’s founders to raise funds for the SARCOE, Hon. Ronald Lamola MP wrote, “I have absolutely no doubt of the need for the SARCOE and the tangible benefits it will bring to our collective campaign to eradicate corruption, and I and those within my Ministry are committed to ensuring its success.”

SARCOE will act as the Secretariat for the Pan-Africa Counter Corruption Assembly and the establishment and future delivery of the South Africa Dialogue.

Professor Geo Quinot Co-founder and director of SARCOE said,” We are naturally delighted and honoured to receive endorsement for SARCOE from South Africa’s Justice Minister, the Hon. Ronald Lamola MP. We welcome him to the position of Patron of SARCOE, and look forward to tackling corruption in all its forms through this groundbreaking collaboration between Pavocat South Africa, Stellenbosch University and the South African Ministry of Justice.”

SARCOE is a dual pan-African counter corruption think tank and training establishment. Its purpose is to contribute to the eradication of corruption in Africa by (1) the collaborative identification and production of effective counter corruption strategies that can be regularised across African states; and (2) building capacity in the public and private sectors through the provision of highly practical real-world counter corruption training courses.

Plans are already being made for the first Pan-African Counter Corruption Assembly, to be held on the 28-29 September 2023.

Ministers of Justice from all African states, leading figures from the private and public sectors, NGOs and other organisations vital in the fight against corruption are expected to attend.

SARCOE intends for the Pan-African Counter Corruption Assembly to be the forerunner to the South Africa Dialogue. To be inaugurated in 2024, the Dialogue will be an annual event attended by African Heads of Government and their respective Ministers of Justice or equivalent, together with other global leaders, captains of industry and the presidents of international governmental and non-governmental organisations. 

The South Africa Dialogue is expected to become Africa’s leading counter corruption conclave.

Professor Geo Quinot said, “The establishment of the South Africa Dialogue is the first step in the evolution of SARCOE to formulate an enduring Counter Corruption Framework for Africa, built upon Pan African strategies designed to confront and defeat corruption.”

ENDS

The South Africa Regional Centre of Excellence Brochure

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The Pavocat-Stellenbosch Academy, which founded SARCOE, was formed by Pavocat South Africa, part of the Pavocat Group of Companies, which specialise in integrity and counter-corruption, and Stellenbosch University.
• Courses will be delivered across Africa to professionals working in the counter corruption field, including law enforcement officials, the public sector, prosecutors and the judiciary. 
• SARCOE will also work with the private sector to provide integrity compliance training.  This will ensure that both sides of the counter-corruption coin are directly engaged: those who solicit bribes and those who pay them.  
• All the courses will be accredited by Stellenbosch University.

PATRONS OF SARCOE

• Hon Ronald Lamola MP – Minister of Justice & Correctional Services
• Adv Shamila Batohi – National Director of Public Prosecutions (NPA)
• Justice Edwin Cameron -Chancellor of Stellenbosch University
• Prof Thuli Madonsela – Law Trust Chair in Social Justice, Stellenbosch University

SARCOE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

• Happy Khambule, Manager, BUSA
• Adv Andrea Johnson – Director, Investigations Unit (NPA)
• Dr Roger Koranteng – Head, Public Sector Governance, Commonwealth Secretariat
• Prof Sope Williams-Elegbe – Head, Mercantile Law Unit, Stellenbosch University
• Alan Mukhoki-Hlongwane – CEO, South Africa Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Adv Anton du Plessis – Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (NPA)
• Rabbi Gideon Pogrund – Founder Director, Centre for Business Ethics, GIBS
• Karam Singh – Executive Director, Corruption Watch
• Prof Nicola Smit – Dean of the Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University