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Central supplier database – useful info and downloads

The national treasury’s central supplier database (CSD) was launched last week by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, at the East London Industrial Development Zone in the Eastern Cape. The database is one of the ways in which government plans to simplify its procurement process and cut down on corruption. The establishment of a CSD, says the Read more >

Rent-seeking is gobbling up our economy

By William Gumede First published in Mail & Guardian South Africa is increasingly becoming a “rent-seeking” society in which the politically connected make easy money without having to work for it: they get government and private sector contracts, mining rights and favourable policies just because of their closeness to the ANC leadership. Although rent-seeking may, Read more >

Toy guns that cost R25m

Love them or hate them, toy guns are just that: replicas of the real thing, only used as toys by children when playing cops and robbers or similar games. It is absurd to think they could be used in the protection of state assets. But in the North West, guards belonging to a security firm Read more >

Act protects workplace whistleblowers

Dear Corruption Watch, as an employee, I want to blow the whistle on something going on, but I’ve signed an employment contract that has provisions about confidentiality of information obtained during the scope of my work. I’m also told there are legislative provisions that make it a criminal offence to disclose information. Does the whistleblowers Read more >

South Africans need to update their activism

By David Lewis First published in Daily Maverick Ranjeni Munusamy poses a pertinent question when she asks “Is South Africa losing its activism mojo?”. And, cited in the same article, Zwelinzima Vavi answers this in the affirmative when he says: “South Africans have become resigned. They are complaining everywhere but there is no real activism. Read more >

Vavi: Corruption at root of Eskom load shedding

By Dane McDonald First published on fin24.com Corruption was at the root of load shedding implemented by Eskom, former Cosatu general secretary and Corruption Watch board member Zwelinzima Vavi said on Thursday evening. “Corruption, waste, and incompetence have contributed to the disastrous load shedding which has not only caused massive inconvenience but has major economic Read more >

Another step towards effective govt tendering

Anyone wishing to do business with government in future will have to register on the newly-launched central supplier database (CSD) and read up on requirements of tenders for which they wish to compete. In Corruption Watch’s experience, some small businesses will get their fingers burned before the database is a well-oiled machine, but Finance Minister Read more >

Checks and balances mainly after the fact

Dear Corruption Watch, I am concerned that many high-profile and important positions in South Africa made by the president are compromised from the start, like the national prosecutions head. What alternatives to presidential appointment are there in South Africa and other countries? Sick of Lapdogs Dear Sick of Lapdogs, Your concerns regarding presidential appointments are Read more >

New initiative from TI is no beauty contest

The 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) is under way in Putrajaya, Malaysia – the conference runs from 2 – 4 September 2015 under the theme Ending Impunity: People. Integrity. Action. This year’s IACC brings together 1 000 anti-corruption fighters – Corruption Watch among them – from more than 130 countries to forge solutions to the Read more >