Corruption degrades the fibre of society, and this International Anti-Corruption Day it's important to recall former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo's words that 'if corruption is not arrested... the greatest damage will be to the belief in democracy itself'.

Listen to this article 9 min Listen to this article 9 min In 2003 the United Nations General Assembly declared 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day to "raise awareness about the damaging effects of corruption and promote international efforts to combat it. The day also marks the anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the first global legally binding instrument against corruption."

The theme of this year's International Anti-Corruption Day is Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity. The youth comprise 1.9 billion people, or about 25% of the global population.

According to the UN: "Young people have dreams and aspirations, but corruption erodes the fabric of society, stifles progress and deprives them of educational opportunities, job prospects, engagement in public life, success in sports and access to healthcare and other essential services. Additionally, it contributes to environmental degradation and climate destruction."

Corruption has been exacerbated in a neoliberal world order, and is a challenge to good governance and accountability in the Global North and South, respectively. According to an Ipsos poll, "58% of respondents to a worldwide survey believed that their political system has been captured by an elite that is corrupt, obsolete, and unreformable".

A...