Recent fierce resistance to corruption by the public as well as bigwigs from both the private and public sector, demonstrates the power and importance of publicly expressed outrage at corruption, and it is this that halts our slide downwards in the corruption indices, writes David Lewis. It accounts for the perception that, although we may still have a serious corruption problem, the good guys are in the ascendant.
Transparency International released its 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index today. The good news is that South Africa’s score and ranking has remained more or less stable. The bad news is that, with our score below 50, we are still among those countries deemed to have a serious corruption problem.
The 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index, released today by Transparency International, shows the need for urgent anti-corruption reforms that tackle the problem at a deep-rooted, systemic level. Nothing less will empower citizens to stop the widespread impunity for corruption, hold the powerful to account, and have a real say in the decisions that affect their daily lives.
Global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International releases its 22nd annual Corruption Perceptions Index on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. This year’s index ranks 176 countries/territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption – watch this space to see how South Africa fares.
Corruption Watch researchers recently analysed the reports we have received pertaining to applications for driver’s licences, specifically in Gauteng, with a view to highlighting corruption trends in licence departments. Not only bribery, bot also irregular employment, embezzlement of funds, and corruption pertaining to fraudulent documents are happening in licence centres around the province.
South Africa’s second end-of-term report for its Open Government Partnership activities was a disappointment. Out of seven commitments, the country completed none, nor did it achieve any milestones. This means that after the completion of two action plan cycles, South Africa has fulfilled one commitment out of 15.
It’s clear that the South African government recognises the importance of partnerships with civil society in boosting accountability, writes Fola Adeleke. But it stands accused of paying lip service to the idea of inclusivity. Indeed, the shrinking space for civil society in governance that is seen around the world is also evident in South Africa.
Commenting on Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s recent statement on the fight against licence corruption in the metro, our executive director David Lewis said: “We would hope that the leadership of the province and the metros, several of which are in the hands of DA-led coalitions, would see their way clear to joining hands in fighting corruption on a non-partisan basis.”
The second South African Citizens Bribery Survey, released recently by the Ethics Institute, showed that it’s the minority of people – although only just – who pay bribes, and that many South Africans have strong moral views against bribery. The percentage who refuse to pay a bribe, as opposed to those who simply not been asked, is still disappointingly small.