A group of civil society organisations, including Corruption Watch, has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to raise concerns about corruption during the Covid-19 crisis. The letter also offers a host of practical suggestions that will help address the problem.
The Department of Social Development has been criticised by organisations and individuals within the C-19 People’s Coalition for paying out R350, which they say is below the poverty line. These organisations and individuals are also calling for the department to communicate better how it intends to pay these social relief grants to beneficiaries who don’t have bank accounts.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has announced progress in a large number of investigations into irregular expenditure, weak governance, and mismanagement. The first phase of investigations is complete, and forensic investigators have submitted their findings, which the department is preparing to hand over to law enforcement.
A small business owner is appealing to the government to give him and other business people opportunities.
Corruption endangers people’s survival and now, more than ever before, that survival depends on openness and transparency. Our intern Anna-Sophie Hobi discusses why South Africa needs to recommit to the Open Government Partnership during the global health crisis.
The work of exposing corruption is dangerous for journalists. On average, every week at least one journalist is killed in a country that is highly corrupt and one in five journalists die while covering a story about corruption.
Corruption Watch has written to National Treasury requesting further clarity on instructions for emergency procurement under lockdown. A new set of instructions was released recently, following the repeal of the first version. The organisation is concerned that lack of transparency will increase the risk of corruption in the procurement of goods under the COVID-19 emergency regulations.
A decision handed down at the beginning of May by the Johannesburg labour court will force the Department of Mineral Resources to consult mining-affected communities on issues that affect them. The decision related specifically to new amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act that were published without proper consultations with mining-affected communities and mine workers.
A Johannesburg resident who had been in Durban since lockdown began, shares his experience of trying to get back to Gauteng before the interprovincial travel window closed.