Former group chief executive at Alexander Forbes, Edward Kieswetter, has been appointed as the new South African Revenue Service commissioner. Kieswetter, who was a deputy commissioner and COO at Sars from 2004 to 2009, has a proven track record in good governance and will serve a term of five years.
The Independent Electoral Commission is currently accepting applications for observer status in the 2019 national and provincial elections, from organisations only. Observers play a crucial role in ensuring transparency as they keep an eye on the voting process at voting stations, the counting of votes, and the final counting, determination and declaration of results.
Corruption Watch’s 2018 Mining Royalties Research Report highlights the complexities and challenges in the management and distribution of mining royalties to people living in mine-affected communities, the majority of whom remain without any tangible benefits. Our case studies brought to light some of the widespread abuse, corruption and unethical practices that have filtered into the mining royalties system over the years.
The newly established civil society working group is committed to ensuring accountability for economic crimes by the business and political elite linked to state capture. We believe that an impactful outcome at the Zondo Commission requires active engagement by civil society which is both supportive of the commission’s work and, where necessary, critical of its shortcomings.
Corruption Watch will be launching a report titled Improving Transparency and Accountability in the Management and Administration of Mining Royalties and/or Community, in a series of community and stakeholder engagements that are scheduled to take place on 26 March in Johannesburg and 27 – 28 March in the North West province.
The rule of law affects all of us in our everyday lives. Although we may not be aware of it, the rule of law is profoundly important—and not just for lawyers or judges. Every sector of society is a stakeholder in the rule of law – but South Africa did not exactly shine in this year’s Rule of Law Index, released recently by the World Justice Project.
The National Prosecuting Authority has been under considerable scrutiny in recent months and, argues the Africa Criminal Justice Reform project in a new discussion document, critical questions need to be asked about the position of the NPA in society. The discussion document deals with three key concepts associated with the NPA and its relation to the public, namely accountability, public interest and trust.
The General Council for the Bar and NPA prosecutors Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi are in the Constitutional Court today. The two are fighting to stay on the advocates’ roll after being struck from it, and then reinstated, while the GCB is applying for leave to appeal the reinstatement. The case concerns the conduct of the respondents during the Johan Booysen, Richard Mdluli and spytapes matters.
Commonwealth Day was celebrated yesterday, but the global affiliation of countries has a problem, writes Daniel Gayne for Global Witness. The so-called Golden Visa programme, which originated in the Commonwealth Caribbean region, is known as an easy route for corrupt people to avoid paying taxes and get rid of their ill-gotten gains. Until stricter measures are taken to curb this lax control, every day could be Commonwealth Day for tax dodgers and money launderers.
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.