Institutions supporting democracy, as constituted by Chapter 9 of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, are crucial oversight instruments. Established to promote good governance, some are more vocal than others. The three most vocal of these are the Office of the Auditor-General, the Office of the Public Protector and the Public Service Commission. However, the extent to which their noisemaking is translated into good governance remains a bone of contention. While the findings of these institutions in most cases suggest clear corrupt tendencies by the executive branch, and recommendations are made, they seldom draw meaningful reaction. Corruption appears to be increasing, irrespective of the noise that the institutions make. This paper argues that the effect of corruption in South Africa has seriously constrained the development of the national economy and inhibited good governance. That is, whereas the South African