DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Reviewing a public protector’s report

Dear Corruption Watch Many targets of investigation by the public protector — for example, Tina Joemat-Pettersson in her handling of the state’s fishing vessels and Pansy Tlakula in her actions at the Independent Electoral Commission — demand that the courts “review” her findings. What is the role of a court in relation to the public Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

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 >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Parliament has leeway on Nkandla

Dear CW Parliament has appointed an ad hoc committee to consider the public protector’s Nkandla report before the elections. What exactly does this mean? What powers does this committee have and what is Parliament’s role in relation to the public protector? Wondering Dear Wondering The speaker established an ad hoc parliamentary committee on 9 April Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Officials invoke imaginary rule

Dear Corruption Watch My organisation has submitted two applications for information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act. We have been told we cannot have the documents we requested because the issue will likely be the subject of criminal charges. Is this sufficient grounds for not disclosing information we believe to be in the Read more >

PUBLICATIONS

Whistleblowers are heroes – our new e-book

Corruption Watch has released a brand new e-book focused on whistleblowers. In the book we talk about what it means to be a whistleblower, who can be a whistleblower, how to do it, and what laws protect the whistleblower. We also share the real-life stories of whistleblowers who chose to not look the other way. Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Parties resist funding disclosure

Dear Corruption Watch, Thank you for clarifying the rules on public funding for elections, but we would like to know why private funds collected by political parties are not transparently disclosed. This matter was litigated and the parties agreed to enact a law promoting the disclosure of private funding, but it has not happened. When Read more >

OUTREACH AND EVENTS

Join us and celebrate whistleblowers

Corruption Watch, the Right 2 Know campaign (R2K), and other stakeholders will be shining the spotlight on the invaluable role of whistleblowers on Saturday 5 April. The organisations will be co-hosting a meeting in Soweto, which will feature real-life whistleblowers, including Mike and Cecilia Tshishonga, telling their stories and sharing their experiences about blowing the Read more >

OPINIONS

A tear in our fabric

By David Lewis Be sure of this: every successive instance of corruption, of which Nkandla is a clear example, tears away at the institutional fabric that holds our country together. The media and the public are focused on calculating the monetary cost of corruption. This is usually a complex task, although in the Nkandla “security Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Party favours at public expense

Dear Corruption Watch, Last week you looked at how public funding designated for elections is monitored, but how can we be sure that political parties do not use other public funds for electioneering? Are ministers, premiers and MECs allowed to use their official cars and helicopters? Can they dispense food bought with public money while Read more >