The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, released in early May 2025 by Reporters Without Borders, shows the decline in media freedom in many parts of the world. This is worrying not only because there are negative implications for human rights-related matters, but also because corruption operates best when the media is not allowed to act as a watchdog.
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index, released in early May 2025 by Reporters Without Borders, shows the decline in media freedom in many parts of the world. This is worrying not only because there are negative implications for human rights-related matters, but also because corruption operates best when the media is not allowed to act as a watchdog.
There is no true freedom without press freedom
Corruption news
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in media work and for press freedom was the theme of the 2025 World Press Freedom Day, commemorated on 3 May. Discussions on the day focused on the benefits and the risks of using AI, keeping the non-negotiable principle of human rights always in view.
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in media work and for press freedom was the theme of the 2025 World Press Freedom Day, commemorated on 3 May. Discussions on the day focused on the benefits and the risks of using AI, keeping the non-negotiable principle of human rights always in view.
Role of AI in media explored on World Press Freedom Day
Corruption news
The effect of social norms on bureaucratic corruption
Corruption news
Public sector anti-corruption initiatives must take into account that it's not only standard operating procedures, manuals, and codes of conduct that matter, but also the unwritten informal rules that control and shape behaviour behind the scenes. This is the view of the Corruption, Justice and Literacy Program which, in a recent report, aims to address a burning question – “Why have decades of efforts to address civil service corruption yielded little lasting change?”
Public sector anti-corruption initiatives must take into account that it's not only standard operating procedures, manuals, and codes of conduct that matter, but also the unwritten informal rules that control and shape behaviour behind the scenes. This is the view of the Corruption, Justice and Literacy Program which, in a recent report, aims to address a burning question – “Why have decades of efforts to address civil service corruption yielded little lasting change?”
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Leadership (Cogta) is reviewing the 1998 White Paper on Local Government to evaluate its impact, tackle challenges, and align local governance with modern realities. Accordingly, the department invites the public, civil society, public institutions, interested stakeholders, and all three spheres of government to provide comments on any aspect of local government - even beyond the specific topics outlined in the discussion document. The deadline is 30 June 2025.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Leadership (Cogta) is reviewing the 1998 White Paper on Local Government to evaluate its impact, tackle challenges, and align local governance with modern realities. Accordingly, the department invites the public, civil society, public institutions, interested stakeholders, and all three spheres of government to provide comments on any aspect of local government - even beyond the specific topics outlined in the discussion document. The deadline is 30 June 2025.
Contribute to the review of the White Paper for Local Government
Public participation
Corruption Watch, in collaboration with Social Change Assistance Trust or SCAT, and Transparency International, and co-funded by the European Union, has embarked on the Strengthening Action Against Corruption (SAAC) project which focuses specifically on empowering and educating community advice offices/civil society organisations in the Eastern Cape province. Follow our activities here.
Strengthening Action Against Corruption
The SAAC Project
Veza (a colloquial term for ‘reveal’ or ‘expose’) allows you to: · Report incidents of police corruption and police misconduct, · Access information on your rights when you encounter the police, · Access information on SA's 1 150 police stations, such as locations, resources, budget and personnel, · Locate your nearest Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, · And much more.
Report police corruption Learn your rights
The Veza Tool
Corruption Watch has been fighting corruption in South Africa since January 2012
We rely on the public to report corruption to us. We use the reports as an important source of information to fight corruption and hold leaders accountable for their actions.
Image: Voice of America Global freedom of information watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its 2025 World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) on 2 May 2025, and the picture it paints is not an a pretty one. The report describes a marked deterioration of press freedom around the world, with violations such as physical attacks, restricted Read more >
By Moepeng TalaneFirst published on Business Day What reasonable measures must Parliament use to ensure meaningful public participation in its processes? This is a question that dominated the hearing of arguments on March 6 regarding an application brought by Corruption Watch to the Constitutional Court. The matter follows the 2022 recommendation to President Cyril Ramaphosa Read more >
