The world expects so much from us

• Students hold placards during the fees must fall protests. Image: The Conversation. By Thato Mahlangu The struggle for young people of colour in South Africa is very much alive. But our struggle is much bigger than what the youth of 1976 fought for. I am not, in any way, taking away what they went Read more >

Marikana caught in politicised food parcels storm

Image: Sabeehah Motala By Valencia Talane A community in Marikana, Rustenburg, in the North West is learning the hard way the cost of being poor and not politically connected during the Covid-19 lockdown. They are caught up in a political storm that is costing them the most urgent need, food. And a ward councillor in Read more >

ConCourt judgment: How does this change politics as we know it?

By Lizeka Tandwa and Jan Gerber First published on News24 Following the Constitutional Court ruling on Thursday, Parliament could adopt the local government system in provincial and national elections, political analysts and a constitutional law expert predict. The landmark judgment, delivered by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will see independent candidates competing in the elections, even without Read more >

Police reform in South Africa is long overdue

Image credit: Institute for Security Studies By Sabeehah Motala and Melusi Ncala Images of the United States of America burning have dominated headlines these past weeks. The images are seared into our minds, of protest action taking centre stage across the country, and indeed the world, following the killing of George Floyd. Rightfully so, as Read more >

Cele cleared of wrongdoing by court, PP’s report set aside

By Thato Mahlangu The public protector’s 2018 report, which found police minister Bheki Cele to have ‘failed’ to protect two whistle-blowers, was declared invalid by the Gauteng North High Court last Wednesday. Cele had taken the report under judicial review. The court also cleared Cele of wrongdoing when it found that his department is not Read more >

CSOs write to SADC urging action against Covid-19 corruption

Corruption Watch is one of nine signatories to an open letter to the secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in which they commend measures taken so far to address the spread of the Covid-19 virus on the continent, and propose 10 guidelines for addressing potential corruption that might occur during the management of Read more >

New key appointments to ‘stabilise’ the NPA

By Thato Mahlangu Two new executive appointments at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will bring stability to the organisation. Tasked with fighting crime and corruption and prosecuting those found guilty, the NPA has been heavily criticised by the public and civil society organisations, with media reports suggesting that it is taking its time, especially with Read more >

CW welcomes new law lifting lid on political party donations

Corruption Watch applauds the signing into law of the Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act (PAIA), one of three pieces of legislation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this week. The legislation will require the heads of political parties and independent candidates alike to record all donations exceeding the threshold of R100 000, including Read more >

Assault, threats, and the butt of a state gun

Image: GCIS By Valencia Talane NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect new criminal charges brought against four Minneapolis policemen implicated in the death of George Floyd. Initially one officer was charged with third-degree murder but his charge has been upgraded to second-degree, while three more accused of playing a role in Floyd’s death Read more >