Corruption, political instability, unskilled or unqualified appointees, mismanagement – there are some of the factors underscoring the continued poor performance of municipalities across the country, writes GGA’s Stuart Mbanyele. But local government elections place the power to change this lamentable situation in the hands of the people, giving them the chance to elect officials who will prioritise efficient local governance..
Corruption Watch and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution have joined, as amici curiae, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s application to have Parliament’s removal rules declared invalid. The two organisations are supporting the inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness for office.
The Independent Electoral Commission has launched its mobilisation campaign for the upcoming 2021 local government elections, scheduled for 27 October under the theme Every Voice Together. The campaign aims to attract young people who are under-represented on the voters roll. And while the commission has been challenged by the current unprecedented conditions, and there are enormous ramifications to both postponing and proceeding with elections, it says it is technically ready to hold them.
The conditions in South Africa are ripe for alternatives to traditional processes of resolving cases of economic crime. Investigative and prosecuting agencies are under huge strain, and an option such as deferred prosecution agreements could relieve the backlog, while not letting perpetrators off the hook entirely..
In this article, written for the 2021 World Press Freedom Day, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project lauds all those investigative journalists across the world who have “given corrupt governments something to fear”. The increasing levels of harassment, intimidation, incarceration and censorship these journalists face, says the organisation, is a sure sign that people who have something to hide are very worried.
In a number of jurisdictions around the world, whistle-blowers can expect some kind of monetary reward if a case which they have exposed is successfully prosecuted. This incentive, argues the Public Affairs Research Institute, can be a useful and effective weapon in the fight against public procurement corruption, as it will offer a degree of compensation to whistle-blowers who, in our country, face tremendous risks and stand to lose a great deal.
The corruption trial of former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused, French arms manufacturer Thales, resumed today in the Pietermaritzburg High Court after a week-long break, but has been postponed until 19 July by Judge Piet Koen. This is to give the state time to analyse the documents related to the special plea Zuma has entered for the removal of lead prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer of the National Prosecuting Authority, and prepare its response.
A new report, released in April 2021 by the Financial Transparency Coalition, reveals that an astounding 63% of the Covid-19 recovery funds spent in developing countries so far have boosted the bank accounts of big corporations instead of going toward welfare, small firms, or those working in the informal economy. Furthermore, the distribution of recovery funds, including those provided by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, is marked by a lack of transparency.
A new report released today by Transparency International and Toronto University shows that transparency in information relating to Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials and contracts is the exception rather than the rule. For Whose Benefit? is an in-depth study of the development and sale of the world’s top 20 Covid-19 vaccines, including those developed by AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer.