CORRUPTION NEWS

Young confident of arms commission impact

By Lee-Ann Alfreds Richard Young is nothing if not dogged. For he has been like a dog with a bone in trying to shine a light on the goings-on in South Africa’s strategic defence procurement package, better known as the arms deal. His efforts to get to the truth include successfully suing the government for Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Why we focus on public resources

​Dear Corruption Watch, I've reported corruption on your website – things going on in the body corporate where I live, and evidence to show improper payments billed to me for construction work – but you've replied that your focus is on the misuse of public resources or power. Why such a narrow focus? Private Matter Dear Private Matter, Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Minister covers up advisor’s spending spree

Rampant government spending has been in the news over the last few years. There was Humphrey Mmemezi, the former Gauteng MEC for local government and housing as well as Speaker Lindiwe Maseko, both big spenders who were alleged to have misused public money. There was Tina Joemat-Pettersson, the former minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, who Read more >

CORRUPTION SNAPSHOTS

Global corruption snapshots: 26 Feb 2015

Fifa executive D'Hooghe cleared of corruption Fifa executive committee member Michel D'Hooghe has been cleared of corruption by an investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The governing body's ethics committee found "insufficient evidence to suggest" that the 69-year-old Belgian "had violated their code of ethics". bbc.com Poll: corruption ‘very serious’ Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Budget: PP gets a financial boost

Public protector Thuli Madonsela will get the financial support she needs to expand her staff capacity, while a new central government tender database will come into existence in a few weeks to curb reckless public procurement. These are just two of the key governance-related announcements made by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in his maiden budget in Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Civil society organisations challenge High Court

Corruption Watch is one of 11 civil society groups intervening as amici curiae in a challenge to a High Court judgment relating to the City of Cape Town’s dispute with Sanral. The organisations are concerned that the judgment, handed down in August 2014 by Judge Ashley Binns-Ward, will limit media freedom and access to High Read more >

OPINIONS

School governing bodies have vital role to play

Opinion: Frances Eberhard Zonnebloem Boys is a primary school in District 6 in Cape Town. In March, along with all South African public schools, it will hold elections to decide who will represent its parents, teachers and learners on the school governing body (SGB). Much is at stake in these elections: SGBs have the potential Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Protection for media sources

Dear Corruption Watch, I live in an area where corruption is rife. The police are indifferent at best, and often complicit. There seems to be nowhere else to go but the newspapers, so I wonder: what would happen to me – would I be named, or need to testify – if a newspaper report led Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

#MyHandsAreClean heroes

On 19 February we published our annual report, and at the same time released details of our new youth campaign, with the theme of My hands Are Clean. One of the campaign’s elements involved participants taking a selfie or group shot of their raised hands, making a public statement against corruption, sending the picture to Read more >