OPINIONS

Rent-seeking is gobbling up our economy

By William Gumede First published in Mail & Guardian South Africa is increasingly becoming a “rent-seeking” society in which the politically connected make easy money without having to work for it: they get government and private sector contracts, mining rights and favourable policies just because of their closeness to the ANC leadership. Although rent-seeking may, Read more >

NEWS

Toy guns that cost R25m

Love them or hate them, toy guns are just that: replicas of the real thing, only used as toys by children when playing cops and robbers or similar games. It is absurd to think they could be used in the protection of state assets. But in the North West, guards belonging to a security firm Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Act protects workplace whistleblowers

Dear Corruption Watch, as an employee, I want to blow the whistle on something going on, but I’ve signed an employment contract that has provisions about confidentiality of information obtained during the scope of my work. I’m also told there are legislative provisions that make it a criminal offence to disclose information. Does the whistleblowers Read more >

VIEWS

South Africans need to update their activism

By David Lewis First published in Daily Maverick Ranjeni Munusamy poses a pertinent question when she asks “Is South Africa losing its activism mojo?”. And, cited in the same article, Zwelinzima Vavi answers this in the affirmative when he says: “South Africans have become resigned. They are complaining everywhere but there is no real activism. Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Vavi: Corruption at root of Eskom load shedding

By Dane McDonald First published on fin24.com Corruption was at the root of load shedding implemented by Eskom, former Cosatu general secretary and Corruption Watch board member Zwelinzima Vavi said on Thursday evening. “Corruption, waste, and incompetence have contributed to the disastrous load shedding which has not only caused massive inconvenience but has major economic Read more >

NEWS

Global corruption snapshots: 10 September 2015

Bucharest mayor taken into custody in corruption probe The mayor of Romania’s capital Bucharest was taken into custody on Saturday night on suspicion of taking kickbacks on municipal tenders, anti-corruption officials said. Mayor Sorin Oprescu is accused of being among a group of officials that demanded a share in the profits made by companies that Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Another step towards effective govt tendering

Anyone wishing to do business with government in future will have to register on the newly-launched central supplier database (CSD) and read up on requirements of tenders for which they wish to compete. In Corruption Watch’s experience, some small businesses will get their fingers burned before the database is a well-oiled machine, but Finance Minister Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Putrajaya Declaration: Zero Tolerance for Impunity

The 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) drew to a close last week. Delegates from dozens of countries adopted the Putrajaya Declaration, which includes eight recommendations for action against the rapid spread of corruption. The declaration calls for grand corruption to be made an international crime, and also insists on full independence and autonomy for all Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Checks and balances mainly after the fact

Dear Corruption Watch, I am concerned that many high-profile and important positions in South Africa made by the president are compromised from the start, like the national prosecutions head. What alternatives to presidential appointment are there in South Africa and other countries? Sick of Lapdogs Dear Sick of Lapdogs, Your concerns regarding presidential appointments are Read more >