DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Free speech versus respectful criticism

Dear Corruption Watch, The public protector, like so many political figures, endures name-calling and occasionally vicious attacks. Is she able, like a judge, to charge her detractors with contempt? Concerned Dear Concerned, The legislature has given public protector statutory protection against such attacks. Contempt of the public protector is an offence. The Public Protector Act Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Putting consumers in danger

Our zeroes this week are the well-known retail food stores involved in the food label scandal – amounting to abuse of power and position – that broke this week. Earlier this week media reported on an investigation by the National Consumer Commission – an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry – that exposed Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Nkandla: Zuma’s report four months late

President Jacob Zuma has submitted his long-overdue response to the public protector’s Nkandla report. When Thuli Madonsela released her final report in March, she stipulated that Zuma must respond to the National Assembly within 14 days – he did not. Initially Zuma had said he would wait for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to finalise Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Mmanaledi Mataboge: taking on the big guns

By Valentia Talane Mmanaledi Mataboge is the Mail & Guardian's political editor. She studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology, which back then was known as the Technikon Northern Transvaal, and since then has built a successful career in radio, television and newspaper, with City Press, M&G, the SABC, and e.tv. Mataboge names City Press Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Staff turnover at the Seriti Commission

By Lee-Ann Alfreds The Arms Procurement Commission is ending as it started – dogged by resignations. One year almost to the day after it was forced to delay the start of public hearings because of the resignation of one of its commissioners, the Seriti Commission – which is probing allegations of graft and corruption in Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Arms deal lessons of more value than cancellations

By Lee-Ann Alfreds Raenette Taljaard is one of democracy's champions – a World Economic Forum young global leader, a Yale World Fellow, holder of two master's degrees, published author, distinguished academic, one of the youngest women ever to be elected to South Africa’s Parliament, political studies lecturer at Cape Town University, and a knowledgeable critic Read more >

LITIGATION

Mdluli fraud charges finally stick

In April we reported on the continuing efforts of Richard Mdluli, former head of the police crime intelligence division, to fight off prosecution on a range of charges – murder and intimidation, money-laundering and fraud – relating to various incidents that happened during his controversial career. These incidents include the shooting in 1999 of Oupa Ramogibe, Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Pursuit of corruption has its inspiring moments

By David Lewis We at Corruption Watch are often asked whether we don’t find our job depressing. The question assumes that spending each day dealing with the seamier side of human conduct and confronting an insoluble problem must be a depressing experience. It’s not at all depressing. On the contrary, it is quite uplifting. First, while we Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Seriti Commission must be fair to both sides

Dear Corruption Watch, I have been following the Seriti Commission hearings into the arms deal and have a couple of questions: if there is general dissatisfaction with the procedures, are the process or outcomes subject to judicial review? How will the findings Judge Seriti makes be enforced? And is a commission subject to the same Read more >