Deputy minister of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, John Jeffery, has confirmed that government is currently developing a draft bill in response to recommendations made by the public to the department’s discussion paper on improving whistle-blower protection, which was released in June last year. Jeffery was speaking at the second Thulani Maseko memorial lecture, held on 12 June in Pretoria.
The long-delayed corruption trial of former police crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli has been set to begin on 7 October 2024 in the North Gauteng High Court. Mdluli will appear in the dock with two co-accused, former SAPS head of supply chain management Heine Barnard and former SAPS crime intelligence chief financial officer Solomon Lazarus.
Former sports, arts and culture minister Zizi Kodwa faces corruption charges, and has stepped aside from both his public and party duties as a result. The charges stem from an allegedly corrupt relationship Kodwa had with EOH senior executive Jehan Mackay, while he (Kodwa) was ANC spokesperson.
GroundUp reports on a march to Parliament on 4 June by farm women, in response to government’s decision not to phase out pesticides, though it had promised two years ago to do so. Instead the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has gazetted guidelines for exemptions on pesticide use. Stun grenades were thrown at the women outside Parliament when they breached the police line.
Banking giant’s role in Transnet locomotives deal may go public if legal action by Transnet materialises, while a Cabinet minister may be the latest senior public official to face the music over dubious favours allegedly paid for his influence in lucrative state contracts.
African governments are not doing nearly enough to act against the criminals within their own ranks, writes Susan Russell for Africa In Fact. A genuine commitment from African leaders is needed, to uphold the rule of law, promote transparency, and strengthen democratic institutions. “This means enacting and enforcing anti-corruption laws, ensuring judicial independence, and fostering accountability among public officials.”
Good Governance Africa’s 2024 Government Performance Index tracks and analyses the state of local governance within local, district, and metropolitan municipalities across the country. Through the index, says the organisation, it aims “to inspire South African citizens to play a greater role in the local governance process of their country”.
The Constitution and the principle of constitutionalism will continue to be politically contested territory, writes UCT’s Richard Calland. But so far it’s held, despite the challenges of the state capture era and various other attacks through the years.
South Africa’s democracy is under threat from politically motivated assassinations, which have increased significantly in recent times and particularly in election years. This is revealed in a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, whose South African crime observatory has recorded at least 10 politically-related murders between January and April 2024.