Today the Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of Corruption Watch, setting aside a payment of R316-million by the South African Social Services Agency to social grant distributor Cash Paymaster Services (CPS). CPS was also ordered to pay back the full amount, with interest dating back to May 2014, to the state.
Today the High Court in Johannesburg ordered Cash Paymaster Services to repay some R316-million, plus interest dating from June 2014, to the South African Social Security Agency. Since March 2015 Corruption Watch has been fighting a legal battle against this payment for which, it said, there was no basis.
Corruption Watch welcomes the president’s decision to suspend Tom Moyane, as we see the SARS commissioner as one of those who has done untold harm to the interests of democratic South Africa. The organisation has declared that it will continue to push for prosecution and the serving of Moyane’s just desserts to him.
The Public Service Commission’s ‘State of the Public Service in the Gauteng Province’ report reveals that the province is well on its way to keeping a clean administration, but several of its key departments have to take matters relating to corruption and ethics more seriously than is the case currently. The PSC called on the provincial administration to tackle concerns such as irregular appointments, conflict of interest and lack of transparency with respect to making regular performance reports available to the public.
Parents and guardians must get involved in the current school governing body (SGB) elections, writes CW’s Lucky Menoe, because SGBs are the governance engines of any public school in South Africa and they must be held accountable for fairly and transparently driving the best interests of the school, whether academic, economic or simply social.
Corruption Watch will be hosting a series of activities at various community locations in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape province, between 17 and 24 March 2018, including schools, clinics, taxi ranks, town halls and shopping centres. We invite media and residents to join us!
Corruption Watch will continue its efforts to ensure that both Jonas Makwakwa and Sars commissioner Tom Moyane are prosecuted. The organisation has written to the National Prosecuting Authority asking for reasons for their decision not to prosecute Moyane, and for a certificate nolle prosequi to be issued – which will enable the organisation to mount a private criminal prosecution against the offenders.
When municipalities neglect to follow procurement processes, the end result is a large sum of irregular expenditure, meaning that it does not conform to any applicable legislation or regulations. A recent Corruption Watch investigation into the eKurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality revealed continuous mismanagement of funds.
March 2018 is the month of school governing body elections around the country. If your child’s school has already held elections, you are within your rights as a parent to insist on transparency and accountability from the principal, admin staff and SGB at the school.
If your school is still to hold elections, this is your chance to make a change!