IN CONVERSATION WITH DARELEEN JAMES, ACTIONSA MEMBER

Corruption remains one of South Africa’s most pressing governance
challenges, affecting public trust, economic growth, and the delivery of
essential services. In response to ongoing concerns about accountability and
weak consequences for those implicated in corruption, the political party
ActionSA has announced plans to introduce a new anti-corruption bill in
Parliament.
The proposed legislation will be unveiled by Member of Parliament Dereleen
James as part of ActionSA’s broader Anti-Corruption Reform Package. The
bill aims to address what the party describes as a “culture of impunity” that
allows individuals accused of looting public resources to avoid meaningful
punishment. The announcement follows revelations from investigative
processes such as the Madlanga Commission and parliamentary oversight
structures that have highlighted gaps in the current anti-corruption framework. This bill is also linked to ActionSA’s earlier proposal, the Fallen
Whistleblowers Bill, which focuses on strengthening protection for
individuals who expose corruption. Together, these initiatives form part of the
party’s attempt to tighten legal accountability mechanisms and encourage
greater transparency in public institutions.
The announcement will be led by ActionSA President Herman Mashaba,
alongside Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni and Dereleen James in
Parliament. The proposal comes at a time when debates around governance
reforms, ethical leadership, and anti-corruption enforcement remain central to South Africa’s political landscape.