If corruption in South Africa becomes institutionalised, writes Prof William Gumede of Wits University’s School of Governance, it will be virtually impossible to tackle it. In a policy brief published recently, he outlines a number of steps that can be taken to combat corruption, but although they have all been suggested at one time or another, those in authority have been reluctant to adopt them.
When leadership power is used for self-enrichment and self-interest and to pursue corrupt ends, it amounts to a gross abuse of power, writes Cynthia Schoeman. But now is not a time to succumb to feeling powerless – we must remember the strength and resilience of the many social activists who fought for our freedom, and find that same strength within ourselves. Now is the time to be an ethics activist.
Former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mxolisi Nxasana, has filed a revealing and potentially damning affidavit in response to an application lodged by Corruption Watch and Freedom Under Law. Nxasana reveals that he did not make a request to the president to leave office in terms of section 12(8) of the NPA Act and that therefore the president’s version of events is false, among other statements.
Online technology has removed much of the human element from various business and compliance transactions, which helps make them efficient and nearly error-free. But can we safely say that e-governance processes work in eliminating the potential of bribery and corruption?
Transparency International and some of its chapters in sub-Saharan Africa have developed a guide explaining how land corruption affects men and women differently. The guide also offers practical advice on how to design anti-corruption programmes that take the needs of both women and men into account.
South Africa is facing an unprecedented political, economic and social crisis, and the common denominator which threatens to tear the country apart is corruption. Across the public and private sectors, there is an environment that is conducive for corruption to flourish. “While the removal of Zuma will not, by any means, solve all of our problems, it has become clear that none can be solved as long as he remains head of state.,” says David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch
The Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut is hosting a day-long conference, the first in a series of conversations between business, government and leading experts, designed to explore what we can all do to ensure that SMEs operate in a truly enabling environment. SMEs contribute as much as 30% of South Africa’s GDP and are responsible for creating many new jobs.
In three recent judgments, South Africa’s courts made adverse findings about actions taken by the Department of Mineral Resources and expressed concern about the competence of some of its most senior officials. The conclusion is that environmental oversight of mines should not be in the hands of the department tasked with promoting the sector.
The crisis South Africa faces is that no matter how hard the courts try to protect the public from its delinquent government, they are failing, writes law expert Cathleen Powell. This is partly because most of the executive demonstrates repeatedly that it sees the orders of the court as a mere obstruction to be overcome, and considers the moral authority of the court irrelevant. This time the people must save themselves.
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.