The deadline for implicated parties to respond to the evidence presented at the People’s Tribunal for Economic Crime – and which linked them to corrupt activities – has come and gone. Parties were invited to respond within three months of the release of the preliminary findings. Of those 38 parties, just two bothered to respond.
The Fair Play music competition is now open to original songs by young bands (members must be between 18-35 years old) on the themes of anti-corruption, integrity and fighting for social justice. Submit your anti-corruption music videos online from now until 1 August 2018 via www.anticorruptionmusic.org. The prize is a trip to Denmark to the International Anti-Corruption Conference, with a live performance at a top live music venue in Copenhagen.
Take Corruption Watch’s survey on the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and share with us your thoughts on it. We’re aiming to create avenues for public engagement and consultation on the draft NACS by targeting the general public, civil society and the private sector, and engage with relevant stakeholders in order to contribute to this crucial process of developing a sound anti-corruption strategy for South Africa.
Corruption Watch has announced its plan to contribute to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, a document initiated by the Anti-Corruption Inter-Ministerial Committee established in 2014. The organisation will focus its activities on creating avenues for public engagement and consultation on the draft document, targeting the general public, civil society and the private sector for their inputs, beginning with the survey launched today.
When we investigated allegations of financial mismanagement at Walter Sisulu Primary School in Centurion, our whistle-blower specified numerous irregularities that had been brought to the attention of the Gauteng Department of Education The department, however, told us that it found no evidence of such when it investigated. In fact, it was the whistle-blower who had to take the fall, rather than the alleged culprit.
The corruption case against former president Jacob Zuma was postponed today in the Durban High Court until 27 July. Zuma – who is facing 16 charges, two of which are for corruption – said to cheering crowds of supporters outside the court that the case against him should be dropped, as there is no basis for it.
You have until 15 July 2018 to nominate your corruption fighting heroes for this year’s Transparency International Anti-Corruption Award – formerly known as the Integrity Award. Read our article to find out about the criteria for eligibility, and don’t miss this chance to honour those who work tirelessly for the common good.
The proposed amendments to the Public Audit Act will see the Auditor-General receiving binding powers of remedial action similar to those of the Public Protector, which means that people who contravene legislation on public financial management will face real penalties. The bill is correctly with the National Council of Provinces and once done there, it will go to President Ramaphosa to be signed into law.
When Corruption Watch undertakes an investigation, we often reach a stumbling block where we are unable to proceed – for instance, when access to important information is withheld. In the case of alleged financial irregularities at Cyrildene Primary, which we investigated, the whistle-blower claims one thing, the Gauteng Department of Education claims another, and we are not given access to documentation which will answer our questions.
Visit our GivenGain R20 for Change page and help us demand transparency in our systems, accountability in our leaders, and better empowerment and protection of whistle-blowers. By donating R20 a month, you’ll be supporting our work with communities across the country, helping them to know and access their rights and reduce the corruption that robs people of resources intended for their benefit.