Commissions of Inquiry in South Africa: Towards an Enhanced Model of Ethics and Accountability

Commissions of inquiry have become a ubiquitous feature in the political system, particularly in the South African post-apartheid administration of the state. Their raison d'être serves to provide a factual account of disputed events but is often accompanied by legal analysis that informs political and judicial undertakings. Commissions of inquiry are no longer an exclusive preserve; hence, in recent years, a wide range of them have been established to probe various onerous issues in the public discourse. A myriad of pieces of literature opines that commissions of inquiry are viewed as a standard element of justice that aims to address, overcome, and ameliorate accountability in those who are vested with the responsibility of handling public resources. This study is conceptual in nature and uses a critical scholarship review and theory building as a methodological approach for collecting data using discourse analysis. Underpinned by both conflict and elite theory, the paper demonstrates the logic and significance of commissions of inquiry as an effective tool to promote ethical governance aimed at strengthening democracy and accountability. The rationale is to explore the effectiveness of commissions of inquiry in ensuring ethical governance and accountability in democratic South Africa. The context of its consideration is the Zondo Commission of Inquiry. The study concludes that commissions of inquiry are an effective tool for ensuring the ethical conduct and public accountability of office-bearers. Furthermore, the study posits that beyond the work of commissions, effective implementation of recommendations by responsible state organs is crucial to sustaining democratic accountability.