Should President Cyril Ramaphosa, after pondering Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s recommendations to deal with state capture, decide that an independent anti-corruption body is warranted, that body will have to be independent beyond just its description. Zondo’s recommendations go much further, in fact, to the elimination of the executive from all stages of public procurement.
To mark African Anti-Corruption Day, held every year on 11 July, Transparency International’s 28 chapters across the African continent have written an open letter to the African Union, reminding it of its anti-corruption commitments and urging it to accelerate action against the effects and perpetrators of corruption. The organisations emphasised the devastating effects of Covid-19-related corruption on the citizens of Africa, and demanded an end to impunity for those found guilty.
Every year on 11 July, African countries commemorate African Anti-Corruption Day – this year’s theme is Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of Covid-19 Funds. To mark the occasion, Transparency International has published a downloadable toolkit to help civil society organisations on the continent to push for good governance and transparency. The toolkit is based on the continuing work of organisations in Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
Public confidence and trust in the South African Police Force has dipped sharply in the last year, while showing a decline overall, and now sits at an all-time low according to the Human Sciences Research Council. The council’s Evaluation of Public Opinion Programme has been running since 1998 and shows a national decline of seven percentage points in 2021, with more than 20 points in the Western Cape. If left unchecked, this situation will continue to undermine police legitimacy in the country.
Part 2 of our new mini-series – on the factors that may influence the proposed establishment of an international anti-corruption court – looks at various views expressed by experts, who argue for and against the court, all making valid points. In part 1 we presented an overview of the concept.
One current hot topic in the news and elsewhere is that of the establishment of an international anti-corruption court (IACC). There are arguments for, and against, the proposal – and both sides make valid points. Our new mini-series takes a closer look at some of the factors that may influence the establishment of an IACC. In part 1 we present an overview of the concept.
Corruption Watch recently returned to KwaZulu-Natal to continue with its research project on tackling corruption in the land sector. The organisation is ramping up its work in enhancing whistle-blower tools and directly engaging communities to end land theft, and will also turn its attention to the Western Cape.
The insults hurled by home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi at the Helen Suzman Foundation amount to nothing more than an abuse of power. Civil society organisations including Freedom Under Law, Section27, Defend Our Democracy Campaign, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, SERI and Corruption Watch, have demanded that Motsoaledi retract his unjustified statements and apologise to the foundation.
Amid the uproar around the Phala Phala scandal, writes Corruption Watch’s Melusi Ncala, are we not losing sight of the more substantive issues at play? A head of state is accused of money laundering, bribery and kidnapping – damning allegations, and frightening. We must not be sidetracked by the noise and the show, but keep our focus on the important systemic weaknesses that must be addressed.
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.