Halfway through the first month of the year, parents of Grade R children at no-fee schools are already being asked to pay sums of money for various reasons. If they can’t pay, their children are turned away. This is unlawful, says the Western Cape education department, and if parents in any province are put into this situation they should contact their district office as soon as possible.
The role of civil society in upholding democratic processes cannot be over-estimated, writes Kwazi Dlamini. Civil society organisations have played a part in the demise of former president Jacob Zuma, the removal of Sars commissioner Tom Moyane and that of former national director of public prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, and transparency in high-level appointments in key law enforcement institutions – among others.
Corruption costs lives – literally, writes Melusi Ncala. Not only does some 83% of the population rely on public health facilities that are overburdened because of a shortage in nursing and medical staff as well as beds, equipment and food, but corruption is contributing to the nyaope crisis because some medical professionals are said to supply drug dealers and other criminal elements with ARVs for the highly addictive drug.
Countries are advancing efforts to stop criminals from laundering their trillions, writes Rhoda Weeks-Brown of the International Monetary Fund. Under the leadership of the Financial Action Task Force, and with the support of the IMF, UN, World Bank, and other stakeholders, almost every country has criminalised money laundering and terrorism financing and established a legal framework to freeze terrorist assets.
If anything, 2018 was even more of a momentous year than was 2017. Here are some highlights in the anti-corruption space, most of which involve government of government officials being held to account. From the removal of former president Jacob Zuma, to shocking revelations of state capture, 2018 was a year to remember.
Embattled former Sars head Tom Moyane has suffered yet another court setback, after the North Gauteng High Court today dismissed his application to have President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to fire him overturned. Moyane is fighting tooth and nail to keep his job, but Judge Hans Fabricius ruled that the national interest was far greater than Moyane’s personal interest.
Delegates at the official international anti-corruption day event, held in Tshwane on Monday, 10 December, discussed the role of whistle-blowers and witnesses in upholding democracy, and the seriousness of the need to protect them from victimisation. Other topics discussed included consequence management, as well as the media’s role in covering corruption. In addition, delegates were told of a newly rejuvenated anti-corruption task team process that enjoys political will and leadership for the first time in years.
Yesterday, 9 December, marked the annual International Anti-Corruption Day, set up by the UN to raise awareness of the devastating impact of corruption, and to look back on the year and assess progress in the fight to eradicate the scourge. Every year, trillions of dollars – equivalent to more than 5% of global GDP – are paid in bribes or stolen through corruption, the UN has reported.
The Political Party Funding Bill should be signed into law as quickly as possible, writes Judith February, as a system of public disclosure has become the generally accepted way of limiting political corruption in countries around the world. Scandals in South Africa’s recent past have given significant impetus to the drive for transparency, regulation and clean governance, which are the principles underpinning the party funding bill.