Tax havens across the world are not only convenient resources for those wishing to avoid paying tax in their own countries, but they have also severely damaged the global tax system and helped crooks to line their pockets with money that should be used for development. This is highlighted in a new study on tax havens, released at the end of May by the Tax Justice Network.
The Fragile States Index considers factors such as rule of law, service delivery, protection of residents, schisms between groups in society, and level of confidence in state institutions and processes. South Africa did not fare as well as some of its African neighbours, although it did improve from last year’s situation, and there is certainly a sense that it could have been worse.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his revamped cabinet. While there is much to applaud, such as the greater number of women in the cabinet, the inclusion of questionable individuals still leaves doubt as to whether South Africa’s interests were genuinely prioritised.
Golden visa/passport programmes are problematic in several ways, writes Natalie Ritchie, including the fact that the investments by applicants have hardly had the boost on economies that is expected of them. But the bigger problem with golden visa programmes is their potential to both facilitate and stimulate corruption and money laundering.
The National Prosecuting Authority is undergoing a revitalisation, said its recently appointed head Shamila Batohi on Friday – but the challenges are enormous. Meanwhile, the newly established investigating directorate within the NPA is to be headed by Advocate Hermione Cronje.
The ink is barely dry on voters’ thumbnails, and already the electorate is demanding accountability – as it rightfully should. On Wednesday 22 May, activists protested outside Parliament as MPs were being sworn in, to “remember all those that lost their lives due to corruption and maladministration in government”.
The voter is the primary employer of all public representatives, writes Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, and as such, it is our responsibility – like any other employer – to take charge and ensure that our representatives remain faithful to their oaths of office and put the nation’s interests above the politics of their parties.
Former president Jacob Zuma is in the Pietermaritzburg High Court this week as his lawyers argue for a permanent stay of prosecution on charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering.
When we investigated reports of financial mismanagement in a handful of schools in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, we found that provincial education departments were unwilling to co-operate with us in uncovering the truth of the complaints brought to us.