SIU probing R171-million worth of govt rot

By Chantelle Benjamin 18 April 2012 – At least four cases, valued at R171-million and involving several departments within government, are likely to be highlighted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on 20 April when it reports to parliament on successful crime cooperative initiatives. The SIU’s investigation into the embattled SABC – believed to involve Read more >

Jumping the queue: an RDP housing exposé

16 April 2012 – Corruption Watch has spent two weeks gathering damning RDP housing-corruption evidence from the field and putting pressure on the authorities to respond – this is what we’ve uncovered … Residents of Pennyville, a mixed housing development near Soweto, were the first to open up. The community of about 10 000 residents live Read more >

‘SA firms lack grasp of anti-bribery law’

By Chantelle Benjamin 13 April 2012 – South African law places onerous obligations on local companies to ensure that they do not participate in corruption, bribery or fraud, whether within the country or abroad, yet few companies are fully aware of compliance requirements to the relevant legislation. This is according to Steven Powell, an executive Read more >

Competition details!

12 April 2012 – Last week activist Hugh Glenister invited young Southern Africans to submit ideas for a new anti-graft framework for the Hawks – now staggering stats have prompted him to up the prize purse by R200 000 and open the contest up to Southern Africans of all ages!   Entry forms are available Read more >

Corruption holding us back – 88% of SA’s youth

12 April 2012 – A staggering 88.1% of South African youth believe that corruption is holding the country back.  This is according to a survey conducted by mobile research firm, Pondering Panda, on Africa’s biggest social network, Mxit.  This figure, along with the other results of the survey, provide startling insight into perceptions of corruption Read more >

Committee urges better management of JHB finances

5 April 2012 – Recommendations to help the City of Johannesburg better manage its finances and improve service delivery have been tabled by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC). This was revealed on Wednesday at a press briefing hosted by the committee to give an update on the city’s finances.   Committee chair Scelo Gcabashe’s Read more >

Fixing the Hawks Bill

5 April – Parliament has again come under fire over the draft South African Police Service Amendment Bill, also known as the Hawks Bill, which was tabled on 1 March. Both civil society organisations and constitutional law experts have voiced their opposition to much of the Bill, arguing that it is not only inadequate but Read more >

More questions than answers as Tshwane replaces anti-corruption body

By Chantelle Benjamin 4 April 2012 – The disbanded Tshwane Metro Police Department's (TMPD) anti-corruption unit is to be replaced by a new unit, which the municipality says will be more efficient. Tshwane Metro Council spokesperson Console Tleane said the move will bring the division in line with international practice. “It will look into police conduct Read more >

Whopping salaries for Mafikeng’s municipal managers

4 April 2012 – The team of senior managers in Mafikeng municipality earn almost R30-million a year, making it the second most expensive council in the country despite all evidence pointing towards poor service delivery and sub-standard performance in the North West district. This amount is according to the municipality’s submission of budgeted salaries to Read more >