Corruption Watch is in Parliament today to make further oral submissions to the Select Committee on Security and Justice on the Protected Disclosures Act amendment bill. Our concerns centre on the expanded definition of “occupational detriment”, as well as the section that excludes civil and criminal liability for protected disclosures, and the introduction of offences for making disclosures in bad faith.
The OECD describes the global natural resource sector as the world’s most corrupt industry. Developing countries’ natural wealth is siphoned off by corrupt politicians and the companies they do business with, robbing national treasuries of public funds that could lift countless out of poverty. As one of the main consumer markets for tropical timber, the EU has a key responsibility to promote and pursue fundamental reforms to tackle corruption in source countries.
President Jacob Zuma delivered his State of the Nation Address for 2017 at a joint sitting of Parliament on 9 February. He spoke of accelerated economic transformation, women’s rights, and plans to tackle unemployment – but as in previous years, he did not give corruption the prominence it deserves.
Read the full text of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address, delivered on 9 February before a joint sitting of Parliament.
In Ghana, land is an indispensable asset. It’s a source of livelihood and social identity, and men and women should have equal opportunities to benefit from it. But when entrenched patriarchy tips the power scales, and corruption reinforces cultural norms, the impact on women can be devastating.
Cape Town-born Cobus de Swardt is the MD of Transparency International. He started off as a human rights activist and, after a decade or so in an academic career, transferred his energies to the fight against corruption. He speaks here to Biznews.com.
Now that her first 100 days is behind her, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s outreach programme starts in earnest later this month. Titled Broadening Access: Taking the Public Protector to the grassroots, it will take the form of a roadshow through which she will engage with public service leadership and the public, with the aim of facilitating access to the services of her office in communities across the country that would otherwise struggle to gain such access.
Corruption plays a significant role in the perpetuation of the illegal wildlife trade. The corrupt get away with their dirty deeds because the commitment to tackling them remains largely on paper, says the Environmental Investigation Agency, which published a report on the situation recently.
Corruption Watch is still waiting for the Hawks to respond to our letter of inquiry into the investigation of possible criminal activities by Sars head Tom Moyane and two senior Sars employees. We have written a follow-up letter asking for a response by 3 February, failing which we will pursue other remedies.