Only 1 In 5 South Africans Believe Courts Are Free From Corruption, StatsSA Report Reveals

South Africans’ trust in the country’s court system has hit a troubling low, with just over one in five believing the judiciary is not corrupt. This follows a series of corruption allegations against senior judges and growing frustration over perceived leniency in the justice system.

According to Statistics South Africa’s Governance, Public Safety and Justice Release report, only 21.3% of households surveyed said they believed the courts were free from corruption.

Meanwhile, 22.7% felt that conviction rates were high, and less than half (48.7%) thought that sentences handed down were appropriate for the crimes committed.

Public satisfaction with how courts handle perpetrators of crime also remains weak, with only 44.8% expressing approval.

Dissatisfaction has been fuelled by delays in the justice process—just 3.1% of victims of crime said the perpetrators in their cases were incarcerated during the 2024/25 reporting period.

Bheki Cele and Judges Under Fire Over Bail and Corruption Allegations

Former police minister Bheki Cele voiced frustration before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating alleged judicial corruption, political interference, and collusion. While acknowledging the rights of the accused, Cele criticised the frequent release of repeat offenders on bail.

He cited one case where an alleged criminal facing 43 cash-in-transit-related charges was arrested and released five times before eventually being sentenced to life imprisonment. “That thing called bail is a mess,” Cele said, describing how some offenders allegedly retaliated against witnesses who had testified against them.

His comments came amid damning claims at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry against Gauteng Acting Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba.

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A witness testified that R2.5 million had allegedly been earmarked to secure bail for accused crime boss Katiso “KT” Molefe—granted by Ledwaba in June despite a prior magistrate’s court ruling denying bail.

A second witness alleged that Ledwaba’s decision appeared “premeditated,” accusing the judge of pushing for leniency even when Molefe’s defence had agreed to stricter conditions. Ledwaba has strongly denied the claims, refused to take special leave, and offered to testify before the commission.

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya cautioned that the allegations were unproven but warned they could “damage the integrity of the judiciary.” She encouraged anyone with evidence of misconduct to submit a formal complaint to the Judicial Conduct Committee.

Calls for Accountability and Transparency Grow

Judicial watchdog Judges Matter expressed serious concern about the unfolding allegations and called for both Judge Ledwaba and Chief Magistrate Vusi Mahlangu—also accused of irregular bail practices—to take special leave.

“In Judges Matter’s view, and consistent with all previous cases where serious allegations are made against a judge, we would urge Judge Ledwaba to step back from his duties,” said the organisation’s co-ordinator Alison Tilley.

She stressed that taking a step back was “not an admission of guilt,” but a necessary measure to safeguard public confidence in the judiciary. The organisation also urged witnesses to support their claims with solid evidence to enable due process and accountability.

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