​Lerato Mailoane
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the release of the first part of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture is a defining moment in the country's effort to restore the integrity, credibility and capability of government institutions. 
On Tuesday, President Ramaphosa received the first part of the report of the three-volume report almost four years since the establishment of the Commission at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
In a move to restore transparency, the state immediately released the much-anticipated report to the public. 
The second part of the report is anticipated to be handed over at the end of January 2022, and the final part at the end of February 2022.
Addressing the media during the handover, the President said government will not make pronouncements on the findings nor recommendations of the Commission's report before all three parts of the report are received and considered.
"We will, however, commence with the consideration of the parts of the report as they are submitted to the Presidency, and will be putting in place appropriate mechanisms to effectively and thoroughly process the findings and recommendations."
This will include engagement with all relevant departments, agencies, public entities and other stakeholders as considered necessary, said the President.
"This report enables us to up our tempo in the fights against State Capture, and if we work together we will be able to rid our country of the gross actions of corruption we have seen in the past.".
President Ramaphosa said the submission of the report and the implementation plan to Parliament is expected to take place by the end of June 2022.
However, this does not prevent other institutions from acting within their statutory mandate on any of the findings and recommendations contained in the report.
"While the terms of reference of the Commission require the submission of the Commission's report and recommendation to the President, the reality is that the report of the Commission really belongs to the people of South Africa. It does not belong to the President." 
President Ramaphosa extended his gratitude to Chief Justice Zondo, Secretary of the Commission, the heads of the investigation and legal teams, the evidence leaders, the researchers and the other Commission staff for the valuable contribution they have made to the national effort to confront state capture.
Furthermore, he acknowledged former Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, whose initial investigation into allegations of state capture laid the foundation for the establishment of the Commission as well as the people who gave evidence, the investigators and journalists whose work contributed to uncovering the matters before the Commission.
"I wish to acknowledge and commend the actions of the South African people, whose shared determination to end corruption and demand clean governance enabled the establishment and work of the Commission.
"It was the people of this country who, in their various formations, stood up to what they saw as acts of gross wrongdoing and abuse of power."
The first part of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture is available here: https://www.gov.za/documents/judicial-commission-enquiry-state-capture-report-part-1-4-jan-2022-0000