Fight against corruption at crucial point
South Africa deserves to have the best possible machinery in its fight against corruption, says Advocate Paul Hoffman, director of the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa and senior counsel for Hugh Glenister.
Addressing a forum at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Hoffman said corruption is a huge problem in South Africa.
"We are in danger of the state being seized by a small minority whose main aim is guided by self-interest."
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Corruption is stealing people’s futures – Madonsela
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is meeting residents of the Nala municipality in the Free State today following a public lecture in Bloemfontein yesterday in which she said corruption was stealing people’s futures.
During the lecture on universities, academic freedom and the information bill at the University of the Free State, Madonsela said students and academics must help to get the country’s constitutional dream back on track.
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NPA will hand over Zuma’s ‘corruption files’ to DA
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said yesterday it would not appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that ordered the prosecuting authority to give to the Democratic Alliance (DA) documents relating to the decision to drop corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma .
The appeal court’s judgment last month dealt only with preliminary issues in the DA’s long-running court case to set aside the controversial decision by the former acting national director of public prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe.
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MTN denies charges of corruption
South Africa's MTN on Thursday denied allegations it used corrupt practices and promises of weapons to win its licence in Iran, the first time the mobile operator has clearly rejected two-month old charges from rival Turkcell.
“Any suggestion that Turkcell's failure to obtain the licence was as a result of any alleged corrupt or improper practices by MTN is unfounded,” MTN's CEO Sifiso Dabengwa said in a statement.
“The allegation that MTN influenced South African foreign policy with regard to its armaments and nuclear position is simply ludicrous and has already been dismissed by the South African government.
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Corruption in Ekurhuleni will be rooted out: mayor
The seizure of property and luxury cars from businessmen and Ekurhuleni employees was proof that corruption would be rooted out in the city, mayor Mondli Gungubele said on Thursday.
"There is no room for fraud and corruption in the city. There will be no stone left unturned in our efforts to spearhead good governance in the City of Ekurhuleni," Gungubele said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the Asset Forfeiture Unit confiscated the assets of businessman Velero David, the owner of Meropa Sechabeng Technology, Nilesh Singh, former executive director of the ICT department, and Andrew Mphushomadi, the former chief IT architect.
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Hawks investigating CSA
The Hawks' specialised commercial crime unit is investigating possible criminal charges of fraud and corruption against Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola.
McIntosh Polela, a Hawks spokesperson, told Die Burger they are investigating the whole of CSA and its employees, which includes Majola.
Polela says the investigation started long before the Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, ordered a commission of inquiry into CSA's finances after the apparent misappropriation of some R4,7m bonuses paid out to CSA staff after the country's hosting of the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL).
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Can the war against corruption be won?
I love whistle blowers. They are indispensable in exposing corruption and other wrong-doing. They contact me in all manner of ways. It often starts with an anonymous call. Or an email from a specially created account.
Documents are sometimes just faxed or posted. If anonymity is discarded, we will meet at a shopping centre or restaurant. A recent source told me a sadly typical story of blatant corruption in a government agency.
A report by a legal firm had found massive irregularities and recommended action against top managers. Shocked Board members who agreed with this were forestalled as it was decided that another investigation was needed to check the findings.
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