The Seriti Commission into South Africa’s arms deal is our zero for this week for its failure to expose and curb grand corruption. The commission released its 700-plus-page report last week, revealing that it could find no trace of corruption and declaring the deal to be completely above board.
Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence is paying lip service to transparency in the recommendation process for the new inspector-general of intelligence, writes AmaBhungane. This has important implications for Corruption Watch’s Bua Mzansi public protector campaign.
Public participation in the appointment of a new public protector – and other positions that require similar processes – is written into the Constitution. Take part in our Bua Mzansi survey and help us to draw up the profile of an ideal public protector.
Multinational companies that find loopholes in the legislation of Africa’s poorest countries are able to dodge paying tax by channelling their profits to tax havens or “reinventing” themselves elsewhere.
Corruption Watch’s youth forum participated in a media training session, presented by the organisation’s communications team. The members of the forum, all young corruption busters, further motivate and educate their own communities and peer groups on the dangers of corruption and how to fight it.
In response to the release yesterday of the Seriti Commission’s report, Corruption Watch notes that, given the commission’s thoroughly flawed and irregular proceedings over the last four years, this outcome is hardly surprising. The organisation’s executive director David Lewis said: “This is an extraordinary outcome … the commission has clearly failed to discharge its mandate.”
The results of the final report of the Arms Procurement Commission have been revealed – there was no evidence of corruption or wrongdoing during the bidding for South Africa’s arms procurement deal. This result shows how deeply the process was compromised, said Corruption Watch.
In part three of our Bua Mzansi series, we focus on Thuli Madonsela, who, with her team, has raised the image and reputation of the institution to unprecedented heights. Parts one and two looked at Selby Baqwa and Lawrence Mushwana respectively.
The mixed legacy left by South Africa’s public protectors continues in part two of our three-part series, which deals with Lawrence Mushwana. Part three will look at Incumbent Thuli Madonsela, while part one highlighted the role played by now-Judge Selby Baqwa in establishing the institution of the Public Protector.