Police minister Fikile Mbalula today presented the 2016/2017 crime statistics to the parliamentary portfolio committee on police. Mbalula acknowledged that there is a problem of inadequate leadership in the South African Police Service which has resulted in low morale, no direction, and poor discipline.
South Africa’s annual crime statistics are released today. Over the past five years major violent crimes have escalated, as has levels of corruption, but it’s not because of a lack of resources – the police budget has gone up by almost 50% while the staff complement has increased.
From 23 to 29 October 2017 Corruption Watch will be amplifying its anti-corruption message in Northern Cape and expanding its footprint in communities where its presence has previously been limited. This visit will include a series of activities at various community locations including schools, clinics, FET colleges, town halls and shopping centres.
Corruption Watch has written a letter to the minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba, and his deputy, Sfiso Buthelezi, to request attendance at the forthcoming annual general meeting of the Public Investment Corporation on 17 November 2017. This is in the interest of transparency in the proceedings.
This week Corruption Watch made written submissions to the parliamentary ad hoc committee on the funding of political parties, on the draft Political Party Funding Bill of 2017. Our concerns centred mainly on the continued lack of transparency in the private finding of parties and the fact that steps must be taken to address transparency in party funding, as this will protect and promote multi-party democracy.
McKinsey’s belated and inadequate response to its gross, and, it appears, criminal malfeasance with regard to its relationship with Eskom and Trillian, does not begin to address the substance of our concerns. This demands an investigation into what the evidence suggests, was a criminal conspiracy between McKinsey, Trillian and Eskom in contravention of US and South African law.
Concerns have been growing in the country that corrupt practices, particularly the looting of state assets, have become embedded in the way business is done. As Business Leadership South Africa – an organisation which represents large businesses and multinationals in South Africa – takes on a new political posture, Steven Friedman puts questions to its CEO Bonang Mohale.
Civil society, community organisations and social movements will have to become more resilient during these increasingly complex, uncertain and troubling times, writes William Gumede. But civil society must also hold government more accountable to distribute resources earmarked for social justice organisations, more fairly, honestly and efficiently.
The Supreme Court of Appeal this morning dismissed an appeal by President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority against a 2016 High Court ruling which set aside a 2009 decision to withdraw 783 charges of fraud and corruption against Zuma. This means that the charges must be reinstated and Zuma must have his day in court.