The economic measures put in place by the government so far are punitive to the poor and working class in South Africa, says the Budget Justice Coalition. As a result, these groups face exclusion, hunger and destitution. The BJC has put forward a number of proposals to remedy this unacceptable situation.
A resident of Elandskraal Village in Limpopo struggles to get fresh water.
The alleged stolen money, which amounts to R53-million, was earmarked for the National Fund for Municipality Workers and is said to have been taken from the municipality’s account on 30 August 2019.
Complaints and allegations of food parcel corruption have been leveled against ward councillors and families that are should not be benefiting from government’s food parcel programme.
A company found guilty of inflating prices of masks and personal protection gear has agreed to pay millions in fines after the Competition Commission conducted an investigation into its activities, following complaints.
A young mother reveals the trials of trying to exercise in lockdown, with two small children.
Prisons across the world are a Covid-19 disaster waiting to happen. Many governments are starting to release inmates who qualify to be freed according to their particular set of requirements – but activists are worried that people convicted for corruption-related crimes may be among them.
The formulation and implementation of economic policy are too important to be left to state officials and market participants alone, and the Covid-19 crisis proves this point, writes David Lewis. If government had been listening to communities and their allies in civil society, they would have understood the potential severity of the food distribution crisis, and would not now be scrambling to address the situation.
Organisations that rely on individual donations and funding are also economically impacted by the scourge of Covid-19. Regular suppliers are unavailable, and the greater than normal use of everyday consumables has put a strain on their budgets.
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.