In mid-June the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, or Hawks, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate briefed the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police on progress made in their investigations. Committee members had some serious questions for those representatives present.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD) invites written public comments on proposed reforms to South Africa’s legislative whistle-blower protection regime. The proposals follow recommendations made in the Zondo commission’s report, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s subsequent remarks on the matter in his response to the Zondo recommendations.
Members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts are concerned that the failure by police official Brigadier Jap Burger to appear before it to answer questions relating to the Eskom corruption investigation, is another indication of reluctance to investigate the allegations. Some even went as far as suggesting a cover-up.
The Special Investigating Unit and the Presidency appeared before Parliament earlier in June to discuss the matter of action on report findings and consequence management. SIU head Andy Mothibi said the organisation has developed a debt recovery project which would help it to recoup the R986-million owed to it by errant state institutions.
South Africans are unhappy with the way democracy is working in the country, an Afribarometer survey has found. Furthermore, the majority of respondents see South Africa’s brand of democracy as highly flawed or non-existent.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ruffled parliamentary feathers last week when he criticised the institution for not acting sooner to stop state capture. His comments undermined the separation of powers principle, said Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.
The National Youth Coalition, a group of more than 100 organisations, followed up its 2022 march to the Union Buildings on 16 June, Youth Day, with a similar event this year. However, it did not just hand over a memorandum of concerns as was the case last year, but included solutions to those concerns as well.
On World Whistle-blower Day, 23 June, we reflect that, after many years of half=hearted promises, the South African government appears to be finally creeping forward in terms of beefing up whistle-blower protection in the country.
A year after the Zondo commission released the first of its series of final reports, little has been done in practical terms, apart from a parliamentary and presidential implementation plan for the recommendations. The pace and breadth of reform is too slow, say organisations Pari and Casac in this statement marking the occasion.
Visit our GivenGain R20 for Change page and help us demand transparency in our systems, accountability in our leaders, and better empowerment and protection of whistle-blowers. By donating R20 a month, you’ll be supporting our work with communities across the country, helping them to know and access their rights and reduce the corruption that robs people of resources intended for their benefit.