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 >

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 >

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 >

Global corruption snapshots: 29 May 2015

Fifa corruption scandal: What happens next? The unprecedented twin investigations into FIFA have demonstrated that the opaque organization is subject to the law, not above it. – CNN Renowned Angolan journalist sentenced on libel charge The internationally renowned Angolan investigative journalist Rafael Marques de Morais has been given a six-month suspended sentence after the Luanda Read more >

Zuma doesn’t have to pay back the money

President Zuma has been exonerated by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, who briefed the media on his Nkandla report. Image source: GCIS 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: Read more >

Nkandla report crafted to exonerate President Zuma

The release of Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s Nkandla report yesterday, and its conclusion that President Zuma is cleared of all obligation to pay back any of the costs associated with the upgrade of his personal home, was met with dismay by Corruption Watch. It highlights the current trend that allows, if not encourages, our leaders Read more >

Namibian president voluntarily declares assets

South Africa is a country where assets and business interests, including that of government officials, can be a murky, secretive matter. But our north-western neighbour Namibia is showing how it's done – newly appointed president Hage Geingob and his wife Monica have both voluntarily made disclosures of their assets and business interests. This, says Rick Read more >

Madonsela clarifies confusion over her office’s powers

Source: Office of the Public Protector Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has attributed the ongoing confusion on the powers of her office to the tendency to delink the office from other independent institutions established under chapter nine of the Constitution and the fact that the Public Protector Act is not in line with the Constitution. Addressing Read more >

Clergyman accused of corruption walks free

Source: Lead SA The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn a charge of corruption against Reverend Josias Mabaso following a psychiatric report that deemed him “unfit to stand trial”. Mabaso, in his late 70s, appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on Monday where he was standing trial for bribery and corruption. Mabaso is also Read more >