Posts

67 reasons to fight corruption

With the seventh international Mandela Day just past, it’s clear that July is observed by many people around the world as an opportunity to serve the people around them and do good in their communities for at least 67 minutes – one for each year Mandela devoted to public service. In this article, first published Read more >

Migrants have rights in refugee process

Dear Corruption Watch, So many immigrants seeking refuge, opportunity and a future in South Africa are greeted with contempt and “xenophobia” that it’s a wonder we still have so many applications for asylum. But I’m hearing that in addition to such indignities, refugees must pay bribes to become documented aliens. Don’t our laws protecting people’s Read more >

An unhappy state of corruption

By Mavuso Msimang First published in City Press I recently requested an audience to allow me to kick off my talk, The risks of corruption facing SA in 2015 and 2016, by re-enacting a scene from a classroom somewhere in South Africa. They agreed, which I hope you will to. There are six tenses in Read more >

Gauteng health dept starts to clean up

Our hero this week is the Gauteng health department which, last week, dismissed 18 employees for various transgressions ranging from corruption, absenteeism, unauthorised use of an official vehicle, and theft of medicines. In 2013 we reported that in recent years the department has been beset with various problems, from mismanagement of funds to fraud and Read more >

Corruption Watch, Freedom Under Law go to court over Nxasana

JOINT STATEMENT BY CORRUPTION WATCH AND FREEDOM UNDER LAW  Corruption Watch and Freedom Under Law go to court to review Nxasana’s R17-million settlement agreement On 14 May 2015, a settlement agreement was concluded between President Jacob Zuma, the Minister of Justice Michael Masutha and the former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mxolisi Nxasana. Corruption Read more >

New Gauteng provincial banker announced

The Gauteng provincial government (GPG) today announced that First National Bank will be the GPG’s banking supplier for the next five years. The tender for banking services, together with that of the Cedar Road upgrade, comprised the pilot phase of the GPG’s Open Tender project. With the award of the banking tender, the pilot phase Read more >

Anti-corruption march postponed by a month

BROADER MOBILISATION ANNOUNCED, DATE CHANGED TO 23 SEPTEMBER TO ALLOW FULL PREPARATION FOR MASSIVE MARCHES In the six weeks since Unite against Corruption announced the planned marches to the Union Buildings and Parliament, we have been overwhelmed by the public response. A growing number of organisations together with thousands of individuals have endorsed the marches Read more >

Is blood always thicker than water?

Dear Corruption Watch: The head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate [in Gauteng] has been suspended while being investigated for nepotism. And this is the watchdog for misbehaving police personnel! But I wonder: we are all told of the value of social solidarity, of community members assisting each other to get ahead. Why, then, does Read more >

Bribe refusal leads to arrest of criminal

It did not seem like a tall ask. He offered R500 to a police officer towards some “cold drink” to help get himself out of trouble and keep the cops off his trail. But the man, a suspect in a theft case, did not bargain on the cop refusing to be bribed. Once he was Read more >