CORRUPTION NEWS

O’Regan appointed as Covid-19 designated judge

Minister of justice and correctional services Ronald Lamola has appointed Justice Kate O’Regan as the Covid-19 designated judge The regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, and as published on 2 April 2020 in Government Gazette No 43199, make provision for contact tracing and for a national database to Read more >

OPINIONS

Covid-19 – stockpilers beware, karma can be unkind!

Wherever there is a crisis, there will be someone ready to take advantage of it. While in many cases this is perfectly acceptable, especially when it leads to entrepreneurial solutions and the development of better technology, the kind of advantage that we at Corruption Watch are concerned about is the corrupt kind. Now, you may Read more >

OPINIONS

Seeing people the day before lockdown was beautiful

Guest contributor I have asked people to share their experiences. Like a colleague of mine, I am personally afraid and locked in. Since out last day at the office I only went out the day before the lockdown to see my parents and buy some veggies from the street vendors. I did a WhatsApp Challenge Read more >

OPINIONS

Uncertainty is the biggest challenge

Guest contributor I’m based in Marshalltown [in Johannesburg central]. I haven’t been outside much since the lockdown, mainly because being outside gives me anxiety. I did go out to the shops on day two of the lockdown though and there was this gloomy atmosphere; it’s definitely is not business as usual in the CBD. As I drove past Read more >

OPINIONS

Lockdown in Tembisa

Guest contributor I live close to Tembisa hospital which is on a busy road but these past few days it’s been quiet. The first couple of days people saw it as an opportunity to visit their loved ones in hospital so there were lines in the evening. People that are discharged are able to find Read more >

OPINIONS

It’s all quiet in Jhb’s southern suburbs

Guest contributor Glenvista is a suburb in the south of Johannesburg. It’s 5.36 square km in area with a population of 10 177. On ordinarily days, the Glenvista community is busy and very interactive especially in the morning with people going to work or heading to the gym or taking children to school. Since the dawn of Read more >

OPINIONS

The education department must act to curb infection

My Covid-19 story: Khuthalo Mahlangu, a grade 5 learner The Department of Basic Education should have planned properly for the shutdown when they realised and found out about the virus and alerted the nation and made us aware of the virus. The department failed to think and plan when schools closed, especially in the townships. Read more >

OPINIONS

Lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic

Guest contributor I have to firstly applaud each and every person who stays at home during the lockdown, I am sure it’s not easy especially for people who enjoy going out. You are doing yourself, your family and the country good. We have the will to do what’s right for us, for our families and Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Lockdown Life – a Corruption Watch blog

The novel coronavirus, named Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation, is raging in South Africa and across the world. This is a time of extreme danger, and so governments have generally responded with urgency, albeit to varying degrees. Because South Africa is a country still grappling with vast inequalities, there are some who will hardly Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

What is a tax haven? Offshore finance, explained

In May 2020 Mauritius, curiously one of the African countries that perform well on the annual Corruption Perceptions Index, was listed by the European Commission (EC) as a high-risk country for money laundering and funding of terrorism. It was joined on the revised EC list by Botswana, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, among others. The former is Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Applications for AG position now open, until 17 July

Parliament has issued a call for applications for the upcoming post of auditor-general (AG). The term of office of current AG Kimi Makwetu will end on 30 November 2020. The Office of the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) is an institution supporting constitutional democracy, established in terms of sections 188 to 189 of Chapter 9 of Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

CW urges Parly to appoint new AG transparently and fairly

Corruption Watch (CW) has written to the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on the Appointment of the Auditor-General (AG) with its views, plans and recommendations around the appointment of the next auditor-general. The term of the incumbent AG Kimi Makwetu, who has served with distinction, comes to an end on 30 November 2020. The organisation expressed Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

AEPF webinar on ethical practises in SA: register now

The Anti-Intimidation and Ethical Practises Forum, of which Corruption Watch is a founding member, will be hosting an online webinar during which the organisation will release results of its research into the practise of ethics in South Africa. The event takes place on Thursday 23 July from 10h00 to 11h30. Attendance is free.   The Read more >

OPINIONS

Appoint anti-crime and -corruption leaders with great care

Corruption Watch has made a submission to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, known as the Zondo commission. Our submission focused on the appointment of leadership positions to key corruption and crime fighting institutions, such as the Auditor-General and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. In the opinion piece below, project coordinator Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

MFMA report: officials continue to squander municipal millions

By Thato Mahlangu Municipalities continue to waste billions of rands through corruption-related activities, the Auditor-General of South African (AGSA) revealed on Tuesday. Auditor-general (AG) Kimi Makwetu said in his 2018/19 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) audit report that municipalities should ask themselves if they are investing in qualitative and preventative measures which would help to Read more >

OPINIONS

Stricter adherence to PAIA will rebuild public trust

By Larry Kirsch The Covid-19 pandemic, precipitous global economic collapse, and demonstrations of civil protest from Minneapolis to Hong Kong and South Africa’s Western Cape have all demanded a decisive response from public leaders. The results, so far, have not instilled excessive confidence in the ability of governments – right, left, or centre – to Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

CW makes submission to the draft Public Procurement Bill

On Tuesday, 30 June Corruption Watch (CW) made a submission to the draft Public Procurement Bill in response to National Treasury’s gazetted call for comments. The organisation has received over 30 000 reports alleging corruption since it launched in 2012. Of these reports, 9% relate to corruption in procurement, particularly in local and provincial government Read more >

OPINIONS

Rebuilding public participation in SA’s mining sector

By Matshidiso Dibakwane and Mashudu MasuthaPublished on Transparency International Australia Over the last five years or so, the South African government has undertaken a process of formulating a new legislative framework with the aim of creating a blueprint for transforming the mining industry. The primary aim of the new framework is to benefit people who Read more >