CORRUPTION NEWS

AG: no penalties for officials who abuse systems

By Valencia Talane Wasteful expenditure and the flouting of procurement processes in government will continue because there are simply no consequences for errant officials who abuse systems without shame. This is the view of auditor-general Kimi Makwetu, who on Wednesday presented the latest audit report on provincial and national departments in Cape Town. Makwetu was Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

How will SA fare in the 2014 CPI?

Transparency International’s (TI) 20th Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) will be released on 3 December. This year's index ranks 175 countries or territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The lower the score, which falls between 100 and 0, the more corrupt the country is perceived to be. In 2013 South Africa did not Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Corruption’s role in the grim trade of humans

South Africa is an important cog in the global human trafficking mechanism – the country is a source, destination and transit point for the trade. According to legal research company LexisNexis, which released its human trafficking awareness index earlier this month, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Durban form part of the major routes. The 2014 global Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Arms deal’s Hlongwane to testify today

By Lee-Ann Alfreds Update: Fana Hlongwane did not show at the Seriti Commission yesterday. His lawyers are negotiating with evidence leaders for terms of his appearance – including a ban on cameras in the room. He has managed to remain in the shadows despite his vast wealth and powerful connections. But that is set to Read more >

RAISING AWARENESS

No consciences in social grant fraud

A nursing sister at a provincial hospital is alleged to be receiving a child support grant for a child that does not exist. Through a connection at the home affairs department, presumably, the nurse managed to get a birth certificate made for this “child” so she could be eligible to receive a child support grant. Read more >

RAISING AWARENESS

A step towards elimination of secret companies

Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis chatted to Moneyweb’s Siki Mgabadeli in the wake of the news that the G20 has adopted strict new principles to tackle money laundering and undisclosed beneficial ownership. Download this interview as an MP3 Siki Mgabadeli: G20 leaders over the weekend vowed to implement an anti-corruption action plan as part Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Chippy Shaik’s testimony full of denials

By Lee-Ann Alfreds Chippy Shaik, the former Department of Defence chief of acquisitions whom arms critics believe was central to the subversion and manipulation of South Africa’s controversial 1999 arms deal, has denied any wrongdoing. Testifying at the Arms Procurement Commission last week, Shaik insisted he had not:   *acted inappropriately to ensure his fraudster Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

G20 beneficial ownership principles: six points to note

Source: Transparency International This weekend G20 leaders adopted new high level principles on beneficial ownership transparency in Brisbane, declaring “financial transparency, in particular the transparency of beneficial ownership of legal persons and arrangements a ‘high priority’”. But just how good are these principles? Here are six take-home points: 1. They were adopted. And that’s a Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

No accurate stats for corruption in South Africa

By Hamadziripi Tamukamoyo, ISS Pretoria In South Africa, the South African Police Service (SAPS) reports corruption under the broad category of ‘commercial crimes'. This frustrates efforts to monitor and identify trends in specific cases of corruption. According to the 2011/2012 crime statistics report, in the decade preceding that period the number of commercial crime cases Read more >