Corruption an impediment to economic reconstruction and recovery: A glocal missional approach

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africans were shocked by reports about the high levels of corruption in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) by trusted government officials. These reports are evidence of the break in trust in the social contract between government and citizens, a severe indictment of their dignity, safety and security. Corruption is a glocal problem that impedes service delivery and perpetuates poverty, inequality, injustice and unfairness. It is not just prevalent in the local context of Africa, but also in the global context and demands a glocal response. Research indicates that religion prohibits corruption, but does not serve as a barrier to preventing it. The question posed by critical African scholars is why religious morality does not stop corruption and what can be done to fight this scourge. The call for a glocal missional approach to address societal challenges can help address the glocal corruption problem. The study is conducted in the form of comparative literature analysis. Through the lens of postcolonial and decolonial discourse, it is established that corruption is not limited to ‘developing’ countries but is fuelled by greed and lust, which contribute to the ‘thingification’ of citizens. A glocal missional approach demands an interdisciplinary focus that values the social contract between government and citizens; promotes a human rights-based approach that respects citizens’ basic human rights; and develops agents of social transformation that combat endemic corruption and prevent the ‘thingification’ of citizens.