Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini has coughed up R650,000 for her part in the social grants payment tender scandal.
It has been no easy victory for the Black Sash Trust and Freedom Under Law, the NGOs that took the matter to the Constitutional Court, which declared that the minister had acted in a "reckless and grossly negligent" manner, to the potential detriment of millions of grant beneficiaries - whose interests her party, the ANC, claims to have at its heart.
Only the threat of having her furniture attached moved the former minister and ANC Women's League president to pay.
Looking past the combustible and pugilistic character of the former minister in this instance, the optimistic among us may be tempted to claim this as a small victory in the long and never-ending battle to instil a culture of accountability in our politics, and in our public life as a whole. Oddly enough, the quest for accountability hardly unfolds in a context in which the principle is rejected.
Looking past the combustible and pugilistic character of the former minister in this instance, the optimistic among us may be tempted to claim this as a small victory in the long and never-ending battle to instil a culture of accountability in our politics, and in our public life as a whole
Far from it - our constitution and the laws inspired by it enshrine accountability as a key principle in the spending of public money and the decisions of the executive that give rise to such spending.
Eternal vigilance being the price of liberty, it is ironic that such energy and resources had to go into enforcing accountability.
Dlamini's case is an important step, though, because she is the first top politician to have to pay out of her own pocket for her actions,
Similarly, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo's decision to refer a complaint against judges Willie Seriti and Hendrick Musi for the arms-deal case whitewash to the Judicial Conduct Committee is a necessary step in enforcing a culture of accountability in our judiciary, at a time when judges are facing scrutiny in the post-state capture era.
Less clear-cut is the case of Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who appointed a person to a top post in the government even though the panel shortlisting candidates had not scored her top of the contenders. The Public Service Commission had to step in, again ensuring, albeit at cost and effort, that our politicians live up to the trust placed in them.
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