The second Model Youth South Africa Schools Challenge 2015, a Corruption Watch/Debate.Afrika joint initiative, finished earlier in September on a high note. The competition aims to expose senior high school pupils to dilemmas associated with transparency, democracy, accountability and corruption, using the tools of debate, policy making and public speaking.
Civil society organisations endorsing the Unite Against Corruption marches on 30 September in Pretoria and Cape Town invite media to a briefing on Tuesday 22 September, in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
On Friday Corruption Watch delivered submissions to a full bench of judges at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in the appeal of SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng. The organisation is hoping its submissions will help to once and for all clarify the role and powers of the Office of the Public Protector.
The government’s central supplier database was launched last week – for new and existing suppliers, there is an information and FAQ section that answers questions and concerns, and provides downloadable fact sheets and brochures.
South Africa is increasingly becoming a society in which the politically connected make easy money without having to work for it, writes William Gumede – and this tendency undermines the country’s productive capacity and harms innovation and new investment. It discourages job creation and efforts to reduce poverty and inequality. It ultimately stymies economic growth.
Our zero for this week is Matlosana Local Municipality, for paying a security company R25-million of taxpayers’ money over a 22-year period – a company that armed its security officers with toy guns.
Dear Corruption Watch, as an employee, I want to blow the whistle on something going on, but my employment contract refers to confidentiality of information obtained during the scope of my work. Does the whistle-blowers act trump such legislation or company policy making disclosure of information criminal?
Effective civil society mobilisation won’t work with constant invocations of an idealised past and the memory of leaders long gone, writes David Lewis – nowadays it requires engagement with contemporary culture, contemporary icons, and contemporary concerns.
The connection between corruption and the failure to deliver basic services was glaring, said CW hoard member Zwelinzima Vavi on Thursday. The electricity, education and health sectors were suffering because of corruption.