Attacks on public protector are unacceptable

Corruption Watch notes with great concern the repeated attacks on the Office of the Public Protector, the latest incident involving comments made by the Justice Portfolio Committee in Parliament last week. The attacks reflect a pattern of disrespect and contempt for a vital institution in South Africa’s constitutional democracy.   Under the leadership of Advocate Read more >

The court’s role in fighting corruption

On Thursday 5 June 2014 Judge Fritz Brand, of the Supreme Court of Appeal, addressed the Symposium on Corruption in the Public Sector, which was hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS). The event was held under the auspices of the university’s law faculty, and according to the university, it arose from the Read more >

Challenging the system on behalf of refugees

By Valencia Talane Seeking solutions to the problem of corruption at refugee reception centres seems to be an increasingly challenging task for many organisations working in the field of refugee and asylum seeker rights. Hundreds of cases of vulnerable asylum seekers are documented regularly by such organisations with the hope that a change in policy Read more >

When attorneys take dirty money in trust

Dear Corruption Watch, You’ve been writing about tracking the proceeds of corruption. I’m told that law firms maintain large trust accounts for their clients. Is this not also a way of hiding, or laundering, the proceeds of corruption? Curious Dear Curious The trust account is an essential part of an attorney’s practice. By law, any Read more >

Motsoeneng does it again

Our zero this week is the acting COO of the SABC, the outspoken and controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng, for suggesting that the media are only focusing on corruption because the country has a black-led government. His statement was made at the annual Joburg Radio Days conference that’s taking place at Wits. As was the case with Read more >

Five years on, Phakoe case is still wide open

The formerly convicted killers of Rustenburg councillor and corruption fighter Moss Phakoe may have been released, but the case is by no means over. So say trade union federation Cosatu and the family of the murdered man, who are questioning the competence of the South African Police Service (Saps) in investigating the case. However, the Read more >

Kayla Norsworthy is leading by example

By Janine Erasmus Just two years out of school, 20-year-old Kayla Norsworthy is intent on making her mark in her community. She recently became a member of R2K – the Right 2 Know campaign – where she works with other young people in her area. She's also a member of the South Durban Community Environmental Read more >