We often talk about the plight of whistle-blowers as being one that involves their safety, wellbeing and security – and rightly so. But often we overlook the power of inspiration that they may have drawn from those who used their positions of power and influence to right wrongs, despite the backlash they received. Some of these are women who, in spite of the circumstances, dared to use their voices for the benefit of many others who could not.
As South Africa ponders the question of how to provide incentives for whistle-blowers, the country needs to first adjust its approach to the matter. This was the view of experts who took part in a recent webinar hosted by the Public Affairs Research Institute. For instance, we should not look for lessons from the US – where a successful incentivisation scheme has been running for years – because that country has institutionalised whistle-blower support and South Africa has not.
Corruption is a scourge in our country, and a major obstacle to our development, security, and well-being. It violates the principles of justice, robs people of their basic human rights, […]
KZN’s KwaDukuza Municipality will include over 300 households from the Sheffield informal settlement in a new housing project, as agreed in a recent court settlement, reports Tsoanelo Sefoloko for GroundUp. The agreement ends nearly five years of continuous evictions and court battles against the shack dwellers, who were supported by housing movement Abahlali BaseMjondolo, and represented in court by the Socio-economic Rights Institute of South Africa.
The laws relating to whistle-blowers are supposed to protect them against retaliation and victimisation. But what happens when the law itself is used as a weapon against those who expose corruption? South Africa is not alone in dealing with the use of the law to avoid accountability, rather than as a tool for social change and justice.
Corruption Watch wishes to correct a previous observation made, that Professor Boitumelo Mmusinyane may not qualify for the role of public protector due to not being admitted as an advocate. We have been corrected in this regard and we apologise for any misconceptions created. We wish Prof Mmusinyane well in the upcoming interview process.
South Africa’s new public protector is due to start their non-renewable seven-year term in just a few months. Currently the parliamentary committee tasked with nominating one individual for appointment is working with a shortlist of eight. Here are Corruption Watch’s findings of a desktop vetting process of the eight shortlisted candidates.
The Ad Hoc Committee to Nominate a Person for Appointment as Public Protector has issued a short list of eight candidates, out of the 38 who made it into the preliminary selection round. The committee will now conduct further screening on the eight, before interviews take place on 23 and 24 August.
The legacy of former president Nelson Mandela should never be forgotten, writes Moepeng Valencia Talane for CW Voices, but as South Africans struggle with underdevelopment, failing infrastructure, and water and power outages, was it really necessary to erect yet more statues – costing millions – of the late statesman to commemorate his birthday?