What makes a tender dodgy?

By Chantelle Benjamin A recent probe by Corruption Watch into a R13.6-million Department of Transport communication tender, which revealed several serious irregularities, highlights problems faced by government in trying to police billions of rands’ worth of tenders annually. The Corruption Watch report, which was given to the public protector on Thursday 23 June, revealed a Read more >

SA sees SAPS as most corrupt within the state – survey

Two-thirds of South Africans believe the most corrupt government officials are in the national police service, followed by those in the Department of Home Affairs – these are among the findings recently released as part of a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey. The study, on perceptions of corruption in the country, was conducted with Read more >

Fighting graft top of new police chief’s agenda

By Wilma den Hartigh South Africa’s new national police commissioner, General Magwashi Victoria Phiyega, addressed members of the media for the first time yesterday, 14 June, at a press conference in Pretoria. Phiyega’s appointment, announced by President Jacob Zuma earlier this week on Tuesday, came as a surprise as she is not from within the Read more >

Will new top cop cut it?

Heated reactions have followed the appointment of our first female police commissioner, Magwashi Victoria Phiyega. These range from optimism that her experience will help staunch corruption within and beyond the force, to outright disdain over her being a civilian – something the South African Policing Union (Sapu) says is an “insult to the country's police”. Read more >

Joburgers open up about cop corruption

In the weeks following our hard-hitting report on corruption within the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), a string cases of alleged bribery and assault by police have been publicised, with the Ivory Park hawker incident and The Star’s recent coverage of alleged cop corruption in Bryanston among the most damning. Corruption Watch went undercover in Read more >

Clean cops face dim fate – union

By Chantelle Benjamin Traffic officers who choose not to get involved in corruption face being ostracised, intimidated or edged out of their positions, according to researchers and unions involved with metro police departments. The situation is unlikely to improve without proper remuneration and training, and the political will to hold officials accountable, the sources say, Read more >

Cosatu welcomes Mdluli judgment

Cosatu welcomed on Monday the Johannesburg Labour Court's decision to rescind the lifting of former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli's suspension. “The federation urges the SAPS (SA Police Service), Hawks and Public Protector to urgently investigate all the extremely serious allegations made against him,” Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesman Patrick Craven said in a Read more >

Durban’s R2bn graft report handed over

By Chantelle Benjamin Ethekwini’s forensic Manase report, which implicated senior municipal officials and politicians in financial irregularities, fraud and corruption estimated at R2.2-billion, has been handed over to the special crime task team set up by the presidency. Meanwhile, the slow pace of internal disciplinary procedures against officials and councillors has been criticised, with only Read more >

Ivory Park assault cops taken off streets

By Chantelle Benjamin Six Johannesburg metro police officers have been positively identified as having been involved in the April assault on Ivory Park residents Andries Ndlovu and Joseph Khumalo. The six, who took part in an identity parade on Wednesday 23 May, have been transferred to the metro police’s building in Loveday Street where they Read more >