Prudence needed in Walmart deal

David Lewis, the head of Cosatu’s Corruption Watch, is not given to outbursts but he is prone to speaking his mind in a considered and rather fearsome fashion. As a former Competition Tribunal chairman and as an academic well-versed in industrial policy, it is probably worth paying some attention to his considered thoughts on the Read more >

Bill would hinder fight against graft

If the Protection of State Information Bill is passed in its present form, the fight against corruption will become insurmountable, whistle-blowers and journalists would face unjust jail sentences, and the poor will have less chance of access to the services to which they are entitled. These were among the arguments put forward by civil society, Read more >

New corruption watchdog to monitor nuclear tenders

Tenders related to government’s plans to build up to three nuclear power plants will be monitored by new non-governmental organisation Corruption Watch, says its executive director David Lewis.   Addressing the Cape Town Press Club on Wednesday, Lewis said there was a common fear that the new procurement for energy programme could "dwarf the arms Read more >

Information Bill gets a beating in parliament

The Protection of State Information Bill came in for a sustained pummelling in Parliament yesterday when organisations representing the fields of media, law, human rights and the fight against corruption unanimously rejected the bill in its current form. Corruption Watch, launched by Cosatu eight weeks ago, detailed how it believed the bill could undermine the Read more >

Institutions raise voices against Secrecy Bill

Several respected institutions yesterday mounted a renewed attack on the African National Congress’ so-called secrecy bill, as submission after submission to the National Council of Provinces called for significant changes to be made to the bill. The newly formed civil society led Corruption Watch warned that the bill as it stands would impede the fight Read more >

Fighting graft to advance human rights

22 March 2012 – Students added their voice to the corruption fight at a Human Rights Day event held yesterday at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus. All participants signed the anti-corruption pledge, committing to a bribe-free society and acting responsibly when in positions of power while encouraging others to do the same. The meeting, Read more >

Corruption insults those who fought for freedom

The high levels of corruption in South Africa should be seen as a form of sacrilege of the graves of those who died fighting for freedom in Sharpeville on March 21 1960 and elsewhere in the country. Corruption is undermining the very rights that many sacrificed to gain. Mind you, Sharpeville is the very place Read more >

Sekunjalo story won’t go away

Somehow, the Sekunjalo story won't go away. Now the Competition Commission has issued a statement saying that the multimillion-rand tender to combat illegal fishing along the South African coastline was being investigated. Competition commissioner Shan Ramburuth said the commission was particularly concerned about the allegations of bid rigging made against Sekunjalo after it emerged that Read more >

Watchdog body a hit with public

In its first month, Corruption Watch received 500 complaints from the public, the organisation said yesterday. Complaints about municipalities, traffic officers and the health sector featured the most prominently. The non-profit organisation was started by Cosatu in January. About a third of the cases involved industrial relations and consumer issues. It also received service complaints. Read more >