In these times of Covid-19, economic stress and distrust of government, writes economist Larry Kirsch, leaders should be looking for positive new ways to put transparency and accountability at the top of their agenda. In South Africa, one of those avenues could be the rigorous enforcement of and adherence to the Promotion of Access to Information Act, the proper use of which is an effective antidote to entrenched corruption.
Corruption Watch on 30 June made a submission to the draft Public Procurement Bill in response to National Treasury’s gazetted call for comments. The organisation has received over 30 000 reports alleging corruption since it launched in 2012 – 9% of those reports relate to procurement corruption.
If mining communities are continuously left out of key decision-making processes, write CW’s Matshidiso Dibakwane and Mashudu Masutha, it will exacerbate social instability and continue to challenge the sustainability of the sector. Now is the time to turn this situation around and make community engagement a priority.
The DPSA is preparing to move against public officials found to be doing business with the state. Despite the prohibition of such actions in the code of conduct for public servants, thousands continue to benefit from unlawful contracts and other arrangements. Criminal charges are on the cards for these wrong-doers, says the DPSA.
For whistle-blowers around the world, speaking out against corruption can either be a good thing or bad thing as often they are not afforded the protection they need. World Whistle-blower Day, which is observed annually on 23 June, should be used to find ways that would help protect the lives of whistle-blowers.
The second wave of VBS arrests represents an important step towards holding accountable those responsible for the blatant looting of resources intended for the provision of basic services, says Corruption Watch. The organisation emphasises that, together with the Steinhoff scandal, the actions of implicated persons should be thoroughly investigated and guilty parties brought to book.
The Budget Justice Coalition has expressed its deep concern that the Covid-19 economic relief package is far less than the promised R500-billion. For instance, only R2.9-billion of net additional funding is provided to the entire health sector to cope with the pandemic, while only R6-billion of the R100-billion promised for job protection and small businesses has actually been allocated this financial year.
Former president Jacob Zuma appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 23 June for preliminary proceedings in the matter of his corruption trial. Zuma has evaded accountability for years, but it seems that he will finally have his day in court. The matter was postponed to 8 September 2020..
We remember the lives of refugees who have been displaced because of conflict and other disturbances in their countries. Some people who left their homes have died in their destination or hosting country after deadly xenophobic attacks.
Visit our GivenGain R20 for Change page and help us demand transparency in our systems, accountability in our leaders, and better empowerment and protection of whistle-blowers. By donating R20 a month, you’ll be supporting our work with communities across the country, helping them to know and access their rights and reduce the corruption that robs people of resources intended for their benefit.