Author Archive for: online.team
Entries by Corruption Watch
Attention to human rights makes for progress in good governance
It is one thing to talk about upholding human rights, but another to actively put those words into practice, writes Moepeng Valencia Talane. In South Africa, neglect, corruption, malfeasance, and poor governance result in violations of people’s human rights – even their right to life.
Investigation of Cloete Murray killing a top priority
Corruption Watch and Transparency International have demanded that authorities speedily investigate the recent murders of Johannesburg accountant Cloete Murray and his son, Thomas. Murray was a well-known corruption investigator and was the liquidator of state capture linked African Global Operations – formerly known as Bosasa. The organisations say it is crucial for the future of anti-corruption in South Africa that those who attack anti-corruption defenders are held responsible.
Looting, food safety remain a concern in school feeding programme
By stealing food allocated to them under the National Schools Nutrition Programme, the constitutional rights of millions of children from poor families are abused, writes Mzwandile Banjathwa. But there are little or no accountability on the part of the many culprits. Does the government condone stealing from children?
Transparency of donations to intra-party political campaigns is a must
In 2022 the Constitutional Court ruled that South Africa’s Executive Ethics Code is unconstitutional in that it does not require full disclosure of all donations to intra-party campaigns. Amendments are due by September this year, writes Natalie Keetsi for the Global Anticorruption Blog – but any amendments will only be as effective as their enforcement.
The ANC will defy its own mandate to undermine the party funding act
Attempts to undermine the Political Party Funding Act will take us back to the age of secrecy, writes My Vote Counts in a statement released at the beginning of March 2023. The organisation decries the governing party’s attempts to amend the act in its favour, saying these are a threat to a key tenet of our democracy — that the people must govern.
State of procurement disaster: a new license to loot
Now that the regulations for emergency procurement to address the energy crisis have been gazetted, writes amaBhungane’s Caroline James, it is evident that they are woefully inadequate in giving effect to promises made to monitor any potential abuse of the regulations. The whole situation is a licence to loot – again, James adds.
CSOs demand clarity, transparency in emergency procurement
Civil society organisations including Corruption Watch, have demanded clarity and transparency around the new disaster management regulations issued as a response to the electricity crisis in the country. The organisations say the regulations are too broad, too vague, and too opaque – inviting a repeat of the large-scale looting that took place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Should Culpable Whistleblowers Be Eligible for Rewards?
Should whistle-blowers who are culpable in the unlawful scheme they help expose, but who have not been criminally convicted in connection with that scheme, be eligible for a reward? This is the interesting question that Harvard Law School research assistant Claire Beutter asks in this article.