Heynes Chanté EvelynNanima Robert Doya2026-07-142026-07-142025https://hdl.handle.net/10566/24962Corruption has been compared to the likeness of cancer, a deadly and often unstoppable poison flowing through the veins of a nation. At first, it may be undetectable, infiltrating the smallest cells of governance and weakening ethical defences long before it is detected. As it spreads, it mutates institutions from within, turning once properly functioning organs of the State into fragile structures that are no longer capable of performing their vital roles. If left unchecked, it metastasises, travelling to every limb of society where it consumes resources meant for public benefit, erodes trust, and destroys economies. Political corruption, a form of grand corruption, is an ongoing and ever-increasing issue within South Africa. For this study, political corruption is described as the misuse of public office by public officials or political power for personal or political gain, which undermines democratic governance, accountability, and the rule of law. Despite robust anti-corruption laws, frameworks and agencies involved in the fight against corruption, this thesis demonstrates that effective prosecution in this arena is yet to be seen. It argues that political interference, resource constraints, inadequate investigations, and poor case management have rendered the NPA ineffective against political corruption. This thesis therefore explores alternative means to effectively combat corruption. The overarching question considered by this thesis is whether private prosecutions may serve as a viable alternative mechanism to combat political corruption, especially in circumstances where public prosecutions have proven ineffective. It examines the viability of private prosecutions under section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977, as an alternative mechanism to combat political corruption. In doing so, it considers the limitations and procedural shortcomings of section 7 and provides recommendations to address these limitations and procedural shortcomings. This thesis adopts a strictly desktop research methodology comprising an analysis of primary and secondary sources, inclusive of national legislation, international and regional instruments, case law and relevant academic literature. It finds that, despite South Africa’s robust anti-corruption laws, there is limited accountability in respect of political corruption cases. This thesis furthermore demonstrates that although private prosecutions may serve as a viable alternative mechanism to combat political corruption, its effective utilisation is limited by several procedural and practical limitations.enCorruptionPolitical CorruptionPrivate ProsecutionPublic ProsecutionCriminal Procedure ActThesis