OPINIONS

Tapping into community media is vital for both it and civil society

By Phemelo KhaasFirst published on Daily Maverick I like millennials’ redefinition of the word “influencer” because it bestows authority and respect on those who have the power to influence. It converts influence into monetary value, which is especially important in this day and age, in a period where a litre of petrol threatens to hit Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

SIU authorised to investigate water boards for corruption, maladministration

A new proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the Lepelle Northern Water Board (LNW) in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape’s Amatola Water Board (AWB), should cast light on long-standing allegations of corruption and maladministration. The two entities fall under the oversight of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). President Cyril Ramaphosa Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Terence Nombembe’s mission to make Gauteng province corruption-proof

By Mark HeywoodFirst published on Maverick Citizen When Gauteng premier David Makhura launched Gauteng’s anti-corruption report in early June, it was accompanied by the first report of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council (GEAC), an independent civil society body he set up in 2017 to “provide independent oversight, advice, advocacy and civil society mobilisation on fighting Read more >

OPINIONS

We need to fix appointments to key institutions – now

By Kavisha PillayFirst published on News24 South Africa’s public service and institutions are in disarray. If we are to avoid any further breakdown of our institutions, we need to focus on who is appointed and scrutinise the appointment processes.  Transparent, merit-based and public participatory appointment proceedings are the minimum requirements to ensure the appointment of Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

State capture-accused Bain sanctioned in UK – now for SA?

International consultancy firm Bain & Company has been banned from doing business with the UK government for three years, owing to its part in state capture in South Africa between 2015 and 2018. The ban will apply retrospectively from January this year. In evidence heard by the state capture commission last year, Bain’s former South Africa Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

New CW report on trends in procurement deviations, expansions, and debarment

Image: UN Environment Programme In October 2021 Corruption Watch (CW), working with procurement law expert Prof Geo Quinot of Stellenbosch University, released its first report that analyses procurement information drawn from National Treasury (NT) data captured between 2016 and 2020. The analysis was made possible by CW’s online tool, Procurement Watch (PW), which was launched at the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

CSOs condemn recent threats by govt officials, call for accountability

Dear Mr President, The ongoing attacks on civil society organisations by government officials are concerning and must receive urgent attention. These attacks are unacceptable, go against our country’s Constitution, and undermine our democracy. This week, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) announced that they are temporarily closing their offices after Councillor Nkululeko Mbundu, Read more >

OPINIONS

Directly electing our president does not guarantee accountability

By Steven FriedmanFirst published on My Vote Counts Academics who teach politics do not believe that their knowledge equips them to judge court cases or to represent parties in legal actions. But judges and lawyers tend to believe that legal training somehow equips them with a knowledge of politics greater than that of their fellow Read more >