Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is one step away from being named as South Africa’s new public protector. Last night the National Assembly gave her the 60% majority yes vote that she needed to make her appointment all but permanent. Her nomination was officially approved with 263 votes in favour to 79 against and one abstention. President Read more >
by Advocate Paul Hoffman Commentators and the twitterati are abuzz, describing the symptoms of the war of attrition at present, in progress in and between the centres of power in the South African body politic. General anxiety in the land has spawned local use of the hashtag #Where do we go from here? Martin Luther Read more >
The latest crime statistics were presented to Parliament today, with acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and minister Nkosinathi Nhleko putting a positive spin on the information. According to them, the crime situation has improved, with seven of the country’s provinces showing an overall decrease in crime. “The downward trend in crime statistics shows that Read more >
By Indra de Lanerolle First published in The Conversation – Africa Civic technology initiatives are on the rise. They are using new information and communication technologies to improve transparency, accountability and governance – faster and more cheaply than before. In Taiwan, for instance, tech activists have built online databases to track political contributions and create channels for public Read more >
Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, an analyst at the State Security Agency, was yesterday selected by the parliamentary ad hoc committee in charge of appointing a new public protector, as the most suitable candidate to take over from Thuli Madonsela. Madonsela’s non-renewable seven-year term ends on 19 October 2016. From the start Corruption Watch intended to ensure Read more >
By Serjeant at the Bar First published in Mail & Guardian Something strange happened in South African politics last week, which was not directly connected to the local government elections that have discombobulated the ruling party. For arguably the first time in 20 years a subcommittee of the legislature did its job without fear or Read more >
In the build-up to the appointment of our new public protector, we have engaged the services of that irreverent puppet Chester Missing for a series titled Puppet vs Protector. In it, Chester conducts short interviews with Dr Makhosi Khosa, the chairperson of the parliamentary ad hoc committee tasked with selecting Thuli Madonsela’s successor, as well Read more >
For the past six months Corruption Watch’s public awareness and engagement campaign, Bua Mzansi, has focused on the appointment of a new public protector as the incumbent, Thuli Madonsela, ends her term in office on 19 October 2016. The Office of the Public Protector is tasked with investigating improper practices at any level of government, Read more >
In the just-concluded local municipal elections we cast two votes – one for a party and one for an individual. Voters in areas which form part of a district council received a third ballot paper for the district council election. Those votes will result in the election of councillors, who are tasked with doing their utmost Read more >