Anti-corruption law does not take into account the factor of imbalanced power dynamics, write Corruption Watch’s Sabeehah Motala and Melusi Ncala. If it really wants to address the so-called culture of corruption permeating our society, the law cannot do so while those with power remain unpunished and those without, risk being punished for their indigence.
Corruption Watch recently made a submission to Parliament on the Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights amendment bill, which was passed by the National Assembly in December 2020. Our comments and concerns focused on women’s rights to land ownership, detrimental limitations on the ability of interested persons to object to conversions or to voice their objections, and the importance of ensuring that holders of vulnerable rights are able to access any information relating to processes, such as inquiries, that will impact their constitutionally protected rights to land.
As part of Corruption Watch’s Open Contracting for Health project, which aims to advocate for greater transparency in health procurement processes, we undertook research into the quality and accessibility of procurement data published on government portals. The research was conducted on our behalf by Open Cities Lab, and It revealed the glaring lack of quality, complete data available on public health-related procurement portals in South Africa.
Help us strengthen the voices of the Bapo Ba Mogale community in their quest to make the findings of the Mafereka Commission report public. Sign our petition to put pressure on the North West provincial government to release the report!
Released today, Corruption Watch’s 2020 annual report, titled From Crisis to Action, reveals that last year the organisation received the second highest number of reports of corruption in a calendar year since its inception in 2012, and importantly, the highest number of reports implicating the policing and healthcare sectors. As in previous years, the majority of reports came from Gauteng, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.
Using artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms to track down suspicious activity, for instance in banking transactions, is a fast-developing field. But there is a long way to go – if it ever happens – before the system will be able to work without human monitoring, say experts. AI will automate tasks that human beings are already doing – just much faster and using fewer computational resources.
Corruption Watch will release its ninth annual corruption report, titled From Crisis to Action, on Thursday, 25 March at 10h00. The report highlights areas of concern reported by whistle-blowers to the organisation, exposes the gaps that exist in the fight against corruption, and reveals some of the steps taken to tackle corruption through collaborative efforts. Importantly, the report reveals how the organisation was stirred ‘from crisis to action’ during the lockdown restrictions of the past year.
Corruption Watch is advocating for the release of the Mafereka commission report, which has not seen the light of day, years after its submission to the North West premier’s office. But the premier’s office, writes CW’s Matshidiso Dibakwane, is not co-operating with us or with the communities affected by the refusal to release the report, which looked into disputes and claims relating to traditional leadership in the province.
Access to information can help prevent corruption, including the abuse of public resources, conflicts of interest and bribery, says Transparency International. It also helps the public have a clear and accurate understanding of issues that have a major impact on their lives – and for this reason citizens should not hesitate to ask questions of government in relation to Covid-19 vaccine procurement. This will help to manage expectations, build trust in government, and uncover misinformation.
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.