CW IN THE MEDIA

Bill would hinder fight against graft

If the Protection of State Information Bill is passed in its present form, the fight against corruption will become insurmountable, whistle-blowers and journalists would face unjust jail sentences, and the poor will have less chance of access to the services to which they are entitled. These were among the arguments put forward by civil society, Read more >

CW IN THE MEDIA

New corruption watchdog to monitor nuclear tenders

Tenders related to government’s plans to build up to three nuclear power plants will be monitored by new non-governmental organisation Corruption Watch, says its executive director David Lewis.   Addressing the Cape Town Press Club on Wednesday, Lewis said there was a common fear that the new procurement for energy programme could "dwarf the arms Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Corrupt police abuse, exploit sex workers

By Zaheer Cassim Sex workers are made extremely vulnerable by corruption in the police force, needing protection from officers who demand sex or money from them. This emerged from the 2012 Cosatu Gender Conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday 27 March, where the decriminalization of sex work was discussed. Sally-Jean Shackleton, director of the Sex Worker Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Is new police watchdog facing old problems?

By Chantelle Benjamin Researchers into law enforcement are concerned that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), a new police watchdog set to replace the existing Independent Complaints Directorate in April, is not sufficiently resourced or structured to deal effectively with corruption and other crimes. According to Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

‘Shining light on graft is the best cure’

28 March 2012 – Corruption Watch delivered a strong message to parliament yesterday during the final round of public hearings on the Info Bill, arguing that the best weapon to defeat corruption is an informed public. Executive director David Lewis said “sunlight is the best disinfectant” when targeting multiple acts of corruption and that the Read more >

CW IN THE MEDIA

Information Bill gets a beating in parliament

The Protection of State Information Bill came in for a sustained pummelling in Parliament yesterday when organisations representing the fields of media, law, human rights and the fight against corruption unanimously rejected the bill in its current form. Corruption Watch, launched by Cosatu eight weeks ago, detailed how it believed the bill could undermine the Read more >

CW IN THE MEDIA

Institutions raise voices against Secrecy Bill

Several respected institutions yesterday mounted a renewed attack on the African National Congress’ so-called secrecy bill, as submission after submission to the National Council of Provinces called for significant changes to be made to the bill. The newly formed civil society led Corruption Watch warned that the bill as it stands would impede the fight Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

Info Bill will instil fear of reporting corruption

27 March 2012 – The Information Bill will further instil fear of reporting corruption, thus eroding public trust in state institutions, the executive director of Corruption Watch David Lewis told parliament today during the Information Bill public hearings.   Lewis said while the Bill’s purpose was to defend national security, the greatest threats and dangers Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Big-time bribes to bring opponent down

27 March 2012 – A job and a Beemer are the lures allegedly used by Musa Mkhatshwa, a member of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), to persuade a journalist to trash a potential opponent of Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza. Suspended ANCYL provincial secretary Musa Mkhatshwa has been accused of persuading a journalist to write negative Read more >