From rainbow nation to junk status, via unethical leaders

By Cynthia Schoeman First published on Ethics Monitor Our country’s recent history should represent a wonderful story of the triumph of ethics: of what is good and right. After centuries of oppression, South Africa emerged as the rainbow nation, and the peaceful transition to a democracy was heralded as a miracle. The massive moral shift Read more >

Public must blow whistles to help us fight corruption

By David Lewis First published in Business Day Corruption is but one of the major challenges confronting SA alongside other arguably more serious problems. Think of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Think of persistent racism. Think of our public education and health systems. Think of our dysfunctional criminal justice institutions and the parlous state of critical Read more >

Looking out for whistleblowers’ rights

Corruption Watch is in Parliament today to make further oral submissions to the Select Committee on Security and Justice on the Protected Disclosures Act amendment bill, which was published in December 2015. This act sets out the procedure that must be followed when public and private sector employees disclose information about unlawful behaviour in the Read more >

Protect the world’s forests by tackling corruption

By Jo Blackman and Elena Gaita First published on EU Observer Corruption is rife in many of the developing countries that supply the EU market with tropical timber. As a key consumer market for tropical timber, and with bilateral agreements in place with many of these developing countries, the EU is uniquely placed to promote Read more >

Corruption fight not lost as long as resistance continues

By David Lewis First published in The Star Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released on Wednesday, scores South Africa at 45 out of 100, a minuscule improvement on our 2015 score of 44. Our ranking has declined from 61 of 168 countries in 2015 to 64 of 176 countries in 2016. Of the Read more >

SA’s youth can shape a corruption-free future

by Sabeehah Motala Corruption has no age. As the voices speaking out against corruption grow, more and more young people are getting in touch with Corruption Watch to report on their experiences. What the data has shown is striking – evidence of corruption affecting young people in their most earnest endeavours. Young people are fighting Read more >

Anti-corruption strategy success not guaranteed

Today is International Anti-Corruption Day. To coincide with the worldwide event, the government is hosting an gathering that focuses on its draft national anti-corruption strategy (NACS). The document was supposed to have been released today, but the long-awaited moment has been delayed. Corruption Watch’s executive director David Lewis attended the event. Read his speech below: Read more >

Business leaders take a stance on clean government

By David Lewis First published in Business Day Ever since that fateful day in December 2015, when President Jacob Zuma tried — and failed – to make an end run around the Treasury, business leaders have shown a greater willingness to engage on crucial questions of political governance. While the full story of those four Read more >

A tale of moral shakedowns: #1 – Trouble with traffic

By Zola Valashiya Our socialisation conditions us to be law-abiding citizens. Generally, the majority of South Africans are. Despite the crime rate, despite reports of the blatant looting of public resources by politicians, many of us still remain and aspire to be the model citizen. In a country like ours, where corruption is rife, I Read more >