Unless there is a will to co-operate, not only with oversight authorities but also with watchdog organisations such as CW, the workings of municipalities reported to us by whistle-blowers will remain opaque, and irregularities relating to procurement processes will not be resolved. In part two of our local municipality series we describe four investigations which were thwarted by lack of co-operation.
Local government shows the health of public institutions at the most atomised level, says Good Governance Africa, which published the second edition of its Government Performance Index recently. Local municipalities are universes, where the historic legacy of the country and the current democratic dynamics converge to give a clear picture of the status quo. This look at the 2019 GPI is part one of our new mini-series on local government.
Corruption Watch today expressed delight at the axing of Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi from the National Prosecuting Authority. The organisation said that the two had brought the NPA into disrepute, they had disgraced their profession and they had grossly abused their considerable powers by protecting criminals and persecuting many innocent people.
Corruption is just one of the problems plaguing South Africa at the moment, and yet, it could be the most serious one, write Corruption Watch’s Deborah Mutemwa-Tumbo and Kavisha Pillay, because it so deeply affects the most vulnerable people in our society.
Former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro has recommended that President Cyril Ramaphosa remove Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi from their respective positions in the National Prosecuting Authority, writes Barry Bateman in this summary of the Mokgoro Report. The recent inquiry chaired by Mokgoro found that neither advocate is fit or proper to hold office, and their actions over the years have brought the NPA into disrepute and damaged public trust in the institution.
Women in South Africa grapple with gender inequality issues every day, writes Sabeehah Motala, but corruption worsens the situation for them. Research shows that women, as primary caregivers, are more likely to be hindered by corruption in accessing healthcare services, education and social grants.
The recently enacted Public Audit Amendment Act and its Material Irregularity Regulations – which give the Auditor-General extended powers – will only be able to strengthen the accountability and transparency chain to an extent, writes Christine Botha of the Centre for Constitutional Rights. For the Auditor-General’s recommendations to be effectively implemented and enforced, our under-performing prosecuting authority and investigative bodies must also come to the party.
The application lodged by Corruption Watch and Right2Know to review and set aside the findings of the Seriti Commission into arms procurement corruption, will be heard by a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court in June.
A new report, released by Transparency International, reveals that curbing corruption in the healthcare sector could free up enough resources to pay for universal health coverage worldwide. But the challenges are many and the will to fight the scourge is lacking.