CORRUPTION NEWS

Nkandla in the wind

Source: The Economist “I am often asked by people from India and Russia, ‘Why do you worry?’”, says David Lewis, head of Corruption Watch, a privately funded watchdog based in Johannesburg. Why indeed? South Africa sits in the middle of international rankings of corruption. It is not Sweden but nor is it Zimbabwe. It has Read more >

PUBLICATIONS

New handbook helps kids fight sexual abuse in schools

By Valencia Talane A high school learner walks into a classroom just before the start of her next lesson and heads straight towards a teacher who is sitting at her desk in front. The learner hands the teacher some money and in turn receives a document. A door to an adjacent room opens and out Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Madonsela one of Time’s 100 most influential people

Source: Public protector Public protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela on Thursday welcomed the announcement that she had been named in the annual list of the most influential people in the world by American news magazine, Time. Humbled by the gesture, the public protector said she was taken by surprise that the modest efforts of her office Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Former ministers’ testimony may shed light

By Lee-Ann Alfreds They are vaunted for being “brave truth tellers”, widely admired and praised for criticising graft and corruption in the ruling ANC. But that is only one side of Trevor Manuel, Ronnie Kasrils and Mosiuoa Lekota. For the former Cabinet ministers are also responsible for approving, stridently defending or championing the controversial, corruption-ridden Read more >

OUTREACH AND EVENTS

Youngsters have fun tackling corruption

By Valencia Talane It has been said on numerous occasions in the lead-up to this year’s national election that it is the youth vote that will draw the most attention of political parties. Their policies should appeal to young people who are thinking about the future of South Africa, more than anyone else. For an Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Victory for SAPS whistleblower

Source: SAPA The labour court in Johannesburg has ordered the police to redeploy Colonel Kobus Roos to a similar position in the crime intelligence unit and to compensate him in an unfair labour practice case. “The respondents [SA Police Service] are obliged to give preference to Roos in any application for appointment or promotion in Read more >

INVESTIGATION

Senior Gauteng public official suspended after CW probe

A senior public official at the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID), managing the Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve, north of Pretoria, was suspended after a Corruption Watch investigation found she was using government land to run a private resort without authorisation. The investigation follows an anonymous tip-off sent to Corruption Watch, alerting the organisation to Read more >

INVESTIGATION

Misusing public property for personal gain

The acting manager of the Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve outside Pretoria has been suspended by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) for using government land to run a private business without authorisation. Roodeplaat is a well-known destination for bird watching, game viewing and a range of water sports including fresh water angling. In the Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

SAPS must investigate SASSA tender

Corruption Watch is prepared to take further action based on the Constitutional Court’s findings that declared illegal and invalid the award of a R10-billion contract by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to Cash Paymaster Services (CPS). Welcoming the Constitutional Court’s judgment, Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said he was pleased that the Read more >