Our first zero

Godfrey Thabo Nkhasi, more commonly known as Thabo Nkhasi, was fired on 12 February 2012 for fraudulently using council letterheads to sell municipal land for personal gain. He was the ANC councillor for Ward 28 in Diepkloof, Soweto. In 2008 Nkhasi was paid R15 000 for land he sold to the Together As One Church Read more >

Post shuffling at NPA, SIU frustrating corruption fight

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has denied that Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, head of NPA’s Pretoria Commercial Crimes Unit, has been suspended.   The authority said on Friday 17 February 2012 that it was waiting for her response to the charges before deciding how to proceed.   A statement by NPA executive manager of communications Bulelwa Read more >

Corruption snapshot: 9 – 16 February

Zuma talks corruption in his nation address In his fourth State of the Nation Address in parliament on 9 February 2012, Zuma affirmed that fighting corruption would remain a priority for government. He announced that a multi-agency working group on procurement – led by treasury, the South African Revenue Service and the Financial Intelligence Centre Read more >

eThekwini under pressure to release full graft report

Opposition party the Democratic Alliance has given eThekwini’s Mayor James Nxumalo until Friday 17 February to provide it with the full Manase report into fraud, corruption and maladministration in the municipality – or it will apply legally for a copy.   The DA is concerned that the allegedly 700-page report will go the same way Read more >

How can I get rid of the dodgy directors?

Are you witnessing corruption but don’t know what to do about it? Ask the team of Corruption Watch experts what to do by writing to: letters@businesstimes.co.za and mark your letter ‘Dear Corruption Watch’. Dear Corruption Watch I sit on a board of a large company. We are a highly complex business that supplies large-scale infrastructure services Read more >

Report: R2bn ‘irregular expenditure’ by eThekwini

A recently released report has revealed that eThekwini metro municipality, with an annual operating budget of close to R19-billon, has recorded irregular expenditure of R2,188-billion in the past three years. The report, by Manase and Associates, commissioned by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, followed the 2009/2010 auditor-general’s report, which revealed widespread Read more >

South Africans make their mark to fight graft

South Africans of all ages and walks of life are committing to a non-corrupt society by signing Corruption Watch’s anti-corruption pledge – a clear indication that “we’ve had enough”, said one contributor from Johannesburg, Andre Botha. Signing the pledge is a way of turning “gatvol” into “let’s fix this”, showing you have taken a stand Read more >

Corruption snapshot: 2 – 9 February

Anti-corruption watchdogs for municipalities The South African Local Government Association (Salga) is setting up public accounts committees in all municipalities to boost financial management and accountability at a local level. This follows the latest Auditor-General report, which revealed only seven municipalities achieved clean audits in the past financial year, with 127 receiving an unqualified audit. Read more >

Power to the People

The disease of corruption has permeated our society, resulting in serious effects on our young democracy. South Africa is at a tipping point, where delivery of basic services to vulnerable communities is threatened by corrupt politicians, public service officials, private companies and individuals. This act of bad faith diverts public resources to a few individuals Read more >