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.
Former Sars commissioner Tom Moyane has nowhere else to go, in terms of legal avenues for his drawn-out challenge against his dismissal – the Constitutional Court threw out his application for leave to appeal last month, and the process to appoint a suitable successor is well under way.
Politics above policing – Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies reveals a fast-track promotion project, run by the South African Police Service, that places political affiliation as the prime criterion for promotion in the ranks. This will certainly perpetuate the long-standing management crisis in the police force, and compromise the safety of South Africans.
If you’re a South African who will be abroad on 8 May, election day, you now have the opportunity to register to vote on 27 April , at a South African diplomatic mission – embassy, high commission or consulate – in the country you will be visiting, so that you don’t miss the opportunity to make your voice heard.
SECTION27 and Corruption Watch welcome the establishment of the Special Investigating Unit Tribunal and the appointment of senior judges to oversee this crucial task. The two organisations say this demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing corruption in a meaningful way.
CW’s Stakeholder Relations and Campaigns Department recently hosted an internal debate at the African Leadership Academy on Johannesburg’s West Rand. The students, who hail from all over Africa, discussed the definition of corruption, the effects of corruption on human rights, mechanisms of accountability, the African Union legislation on corruption, and how to improve anti-corruption in Africa.