My Vote Counts is turning to the Western Cape High Court in a bid to have the shortcomings of the Promotion of Access to Information Act addressed. The organisation says the public can only properly hold their elected representatives accountable if they are sufficiently informed, and PAIA is inadequate in this specific context.
The Constitutional Court has approved the amount of R7.8-million which the National Treasury had determined must be repaid by President Jacob Zuma, after he improperly benefited from non-security upgrades to his personal residence – at the taxpayer’s expense,
The Australian company involved in the controversial Xolobeni titanium mining application has announced its withdrawal from the project – but too late for Sikhosiphi ‘Bazooka’ Rhadebe. The anti-mining activist and community leader was shot dead in front of his young son in March – we were part of a group of NGOs who demanded justice for him, and issued a letter two months later lamenting the lack of action in resolving the murder.
The Right to Know campaign has called on communities to urge local councillors to sign an accountability pledge for the upcoming municipal elections.
Corruption is highly resilient and evolutionary – a sure indication of its complexity, as it adapts quickly to changes in the system, such as the introduction of a law or the removal of a player. As a result, short-term successes may be unsustainable, or even generate negative effects in the longer run. Anti-corruption programmes must take this, and other characteristics of complex systems, into account if success is to be achieved.
Are you a young changemaker passionate about busting land-related corruption in Southern Africa? Apply NOW to Ashoka’s Changemakerxchange, 2 – 5 October 2016 in Johannesburg. The event is held in partnership withTransparency International and the International Anti-Corruption Conference. Deadline to apply: Friday 12 August, 17h00 SAST!
Illicit financial flows from Africa and between countries on the continent result in the loss of billions of dollars that could otherwise be used for development. There are ways to counter it, but they will require capacity and will, as well as uniformity in enforcement of the laws.
The 14 candidates on the shortlist for the position of public protector have been announced. Interviews will take place on 11 August, but the public’s participation in the process is not yet over. Rigorous scrutiny is now needed, to ensure that the best candidate is recommended.
Corruption Watch is one of only six organisations on the African continent whose financial transparency levels have received a five-star rating from Transparify, an independent initiative which evaluates and promotes financial openness among think tanks around the world.
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.