Nkandla in the wind

Source: The Economist “I am often asked by people from India and Russia, ‘Why do you worry?’”, says David Lewis, head of Corruption Watch, a privately funded watchdog based in Johannesburg. Why indeed? South Africa sits in the middle of international rankings of corruption. It is not Sweden but nor is it Zimbabwe. It has Read more >

New handbook helps kids fight sexual abuse in schools

By Valencia Talane A high school learner walks into a classroom just before the start of her next lesson and heads straight towards a teacher who is sitting at her desk in front. The learner hands the teacher some money and in turn receives a document. A door to an adjacent room opens and out Read more >

Former ministers’ testimony may shed light

By Lee-Ann Alfreds They are vaunted for being “brave truth tellers”, widely admired and praised for criticising graft and corruption in the ruling ANC. But that is only one side of Trevor Manuel, Ronnie Kasrils and Mosiuoa Lekota. For the former Cabinet ministers are also responsible for approving, stridently defending or championing the controversial, corruption-ridden Read more >

Youngsters have fun tackling corruption

By Valencia Talane It has been said on numerous occasions in the lead-up to this year’s national election that it is the youth vote that will draw the most attention of political parties. Their policies should appeal to young people who are thinking about the future of South Africa, more than anyone else. For an Read more >

Victory for SAPS whistleblower

Source: SAPA The labour court in Johannesburg has ordered the police to redeploy Colonel Kobus Roos to a similar position in the crime intelligence unit and to compensate him in an unfair labour practice case. “The respondents [SA Police Service] are obliged to give preference to Roos in any application for appointment or promotion in Read more >

Misusing public property for personal gain

The acting manager of the Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve outside Pretoria has been suspended by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) for using government land to run a private business without authorisation. Roodeplaat is a well-known destination for bird watching, game viewing and a range of water sports including fresh water angling. In the Read more >

SAPS must investigate SASSA tender

Corruption Watch has called for a police investigation into the R10-billion social grant tender awarded by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to a private company, Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), for the distribution of social grants to around 15-million beneficiaries. The organisation's executive director David Lewis said: “The South African law enforcement authorities must now Read more >

Mdluli still on the hook

The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that corruption and fraud charges against Richard Mdluli, the former head of the police crime intelligence division, must proceed. Mdluli's reinstatement to that position, after being suspended, was also overturned. On 17 April Judge Fritz Brand, with judges Kenneth Mthiyane, Mahomed Navsa, Visvanathan Ponnan and Mandisa Maya concurring, Read more >

Tembisa discussion draws residents

By Valencia Talane What good are anti-corruption laws if they do not protect those who blow the whistle on people who abuse public resources, and offer no visible punishment for those who are caught? This was the burning question at a debate co-hosted by Corruption Watch and Kaya FM in Tembisa on Wednesday. Presenter and Read more >