What is corruption?
Corruption is the abuse of public resources to enrich or give unfair advantage to individuals, their family or their friends. Corruption Watch is concerned with any such abuse of power or position by anyone at any level of government or in business.
Examples of public resources:
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Money, goods, vehicles, buildings and any other resources that belong to the government
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Pension funds and medical aid funds
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Trade union money and resources
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Lottery money
- Donations to charities
Common forms of corruption:
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A business or individual pays a bribe to a government official in order to be given a government contract or licence
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The use of government-owned resources, such as motor vehicles, for private purposes
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A government official takes advantage of his or her position to favour a family member or business associate for a job or tender contract. This is commonly called nepotism
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A police officer solicits a bribe or a member of the public offers one in order to escape lawful punishment
Power to the People
A new initiative aims to promote political accountability and bring back the voice of citizens, writes Vuyiseka Dubula in the City Press.
A web of watchdogs and whistle-blowers
How many of you reading this have experienced corruption in some form? You were asked for, or paid, a bribe; you work for a company that has secured lucrative state contracts through bribery or other inappropriate relationships; you are in a position of power and routinely dispense "favours" to those who need the services that your organisation provides, writes David Lewis in the Mail & Guardian.
Stamping out corruption is everybody’s business
Take the Corruption Watch pledge to protect public funds from slippery fingers, urges Kate O’Regan in the Business Times.
The law trumps confidentiality agreements
Are you faced with an ethical dilemma? Are you witnessing corruption but don’t know what to do about it? Ask the team of Corruption Watch experts what to do by writing to: letters@businesstimes.co.za and mark your letter ‘Dear Corruption Watch’.