An opinion and analysis piece in South Africa discusses governance and credibility challenges associated with IDAC, focusing on how the institution’s decisions affect accountability and fairness in the public sector. The article questions the basis on which a constitutional institution may deny opportunities by citing speculative future risks rather than present, demonstrable criteria. It argues that decisions framed around uncertain risks can undermine merit-based selection and create tension with principles of transparency and accountability. The piece links these concerns to wider governance expectations for constitutional bodies, emphasizing that institutional credibility depends not only on the outcomes of decisions but also on the reasoning used to justify them. It also points to the potential implications for public confidence when stakeholders perceive that access to roles or opportunities is restricted without clear evidence. Overall, the article presents a critical examination of how risk-based discretion can shape perceptions of fairness and institutional legitimacy in South Africa’s public administration.