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.
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.