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Covid-19 audit flags weak controls, as expected

The report covers about R69-billion of the R147-billion spending for the period from April – when the R500-billion fund was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa – to the end of July. It has flagged, so far, glaring signs of trouble: Exorbitant spending against suppliers when compared to their pre-Covid-19 spendingSuppliers used for the first time Read more >

Now or never: time to create real, lasting procurement reform

1 September 2020 Dear President Ramaphosa and Minister Mboweni, We write to you as civil society organisations deeply concerned at the high levels of corruption being committed through our public procurement system. We call on you to take advantage of the current opportunities and show decisive leadership to steer a collaborative process as the draft Read more >

No panacea for corruption – so do we need to keep spelling it out?

By Matthew StephensonFirst published on Global Anticorrutpion blog I’m taking another one of my periodic breaks from semi-serious commentary to make a mostly frivolous, slightly snarky point about the way we talk and write about corruption. Here’s my plea for today: Every sensible person would presumably agree that there’s no panacea (that is, no single Read more >

#PayTheGrants: SASSA is failing to implement the emergency grant

28 August 2020 Issued on behalf of C19 People’s Coalition: Cash Transfers subgroup. The #PayTheGrants campaign is an initiative of the C19 People’s Coalition. Almost five months have passed since the announcement of the lockdown. While South Africans apprehensively welcome level two, many have experienced increased hunger and desperation during this prolonged period. The staggered Read more >

Markus Jooste still a free man – but that will change, says NPA

In late 2017 the Steinhoff scandal broke, sending tremors of anger and outrage around the world, especially in the countries where the South African multinational retail holding company traded or was listed. Accounting irregularities dating back to 2015 were uncovered during an auditing probe triggered by the refusal of Deloitte, Steinhoff’s auditing firm at the Read more >

Mauritius and others under scrutiny for money-laundering

Mauritius, that lazy, friendly little island in the Indian Ocean, beloved of holidaymakers and honeymooners, has a dark side. It is also a favourite haunt of money launderers and tax evaders and in fact, is known as one of the world’s top corporate tax havens. In July 2019, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ (ICIJ) Read more >

CW scrutinises AG hopefuls and submits results to parly

The short list for the upcoming position of auditor-general (AG) was announced at the beginning of August. Current AG Kimi Makwetu ends his distinguished term of office on 30 November, and the six candidates to replace him are: Mr Michael Sass, CA (SA)Dr Moses Gasela, (FCCA, UK)Ms Shabeer Khan, CA (SA)Ms Tsakani Maluleke, CA (SA)Mr Read more >

A sad story of stagnating good governance

Governance: the traditions and institutions by which authority in a country is exercised, including the process by which governments are selected, monitored and replaced; the capacity of the government to effectively formulate and implement sound policies; and the respect of citizens and the state for the institutions that govern economic and social interactions among them. Read more >