DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Fee just as illegal as bribe

Dear Corruption Watch: Coverage of the showdown between the former head of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission and the minister of trade and industry glossed over the “grease payments” she was trying to stamp out. People are often required, when registering their businesses, to pay an extra “fee” to a “runner” who takes the Read more >

RAISING AWARENESS

Investigator’s testimony fingers Zuma, Shaik

By Lee-Ann Alfreds President Jacob Zuma received “financial benefit” from the arms deal. And there was “prima facie” evidence of corruption involving the president and related to the deal, the Arms Procurement Commission heard last month. Testifying on 18 and 19 May before the enquiry which is investigating allegations of fraud and corruption in South Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

AG: municipal supply chain management problematic

Municipal employees, councillors, their relatives and broader public servants benefited from municipality contracts worth over R800-million between 2013 and 2014. This was revealed by auditor-general Kimi Makwetu in his latest local government audit report released on Wednesday. Of the amount, the biggest chunk – R781-million – went to close relatives of employees and councillors. The Read more >

LEGISLATION AND SUBMISSIONS

CW weighs in on draft FIC amendment bill

Corruption Watch has made submissions on the draft Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) amendment bill. The treasury published the bill on 21 April, and invited public comment until 31 May. The bill was approved by Cabinet on 15 April. “We are generally impressed by the commitment by the National Treasury and FIC to deal with the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Open data is a key factor in fighting corruption

An open, democratic government system that gives its citizens access to information on its plans, its spending patterns and its services – it's the ideal that the world’s open data advocates work towards daily, for the nations that need it. Whether or not they will win the war against administrative secrecy remains to be seen, Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Madonsela responds to Nhleko’s Nkandla report

Source: Public Protector The public protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, notes police minister Nathi Nhleko’s report to Parliament on the security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s private residence in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. She is of the view that Minister Nhleko gave the matter his best and that he applied his mind to the issues at hand. The Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

One thing taxpayers won’t be liable for

Dear Corruption Watch: New day, new allegations of corruption levelled against the top brass of our parastatals. Invariably, the defamed chairperson or CEO vociferously denies the allegations and threatens to sue for defamation. If he or she does decide to sue, can the state-owned company foot the legal bill? T (for tired-of-paying-legal-bills) Taxpayer. Dear T Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Two non-leaders take joint zero

President Jacob Zuma and Fifa president Sepp Blatter are our joint zeroes of the week for this week, for reasons that do not stray far from the obvious: they both showed lack of leadership at very crucial times for their administrations. On the same day that the biggest scandal rocked the world’s largest sporting body, Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Zuma doesn’t have to pay back the money

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko yesterday gave his report-back on the Nkandla upgrades. At a press briefing punctuated by educational videos on the use and meaning of various features at Nkandla, Nhleko revealed his conclusion: President Jacob Zuma does not have to pay back any of the money. Nhleko’s report stems from a recommendation by the Read more >