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CORRUPTION NEWS

Jonas Makwakwa still under a cloud at SA’s tax agency

South African Revenue Service (Sars) second-in-command Jonas Makwakwa remained under suspension as the investigation into the “suspicious and unusual” cash payments made into his bank accounts had not yet been completed, the tax authority said on Monday. The investigation is being undertaken by law firm Hogan Lovells. Sars commissioner Tom Moyane has indicated that Sars Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Government – for the few, by the few

A new nine-country survey by the Pew Research Center (PRC), a US non-profit organisation, has found a common perception that government is run for the benefit of the few rather than the many‚ both in emerging democracies and more mature democracies that have faced economic challenges. The survey probes the strengths and limitations of civic Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Public trust in government dwindles

In an election year, it’s often a no-holds-barred scenario as parties jostle for advantage amongst the electorate. In South Africa, much of that electorate votes out of loyalty or tradition, but for a significant proportion who take time and care over their decision, it comes down to trust – whom do you trust to act Read more >

RAISING AWARENESS

Graft should send a shiver down SA’s spine

Each year the release of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index generates a predictably polarised South African response. Some insist that it understates our problem. Others argue that it is part of a “cold war” waged by developed counties against developing countries, another platform for discrediting developing country governments by luming them with responsibility for a Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Even pensions can be scammed

Dear Corruption Watch, I am 84 and receive a civil pension from the Government Employees Pension Fund. About 10 years ago, the GEPF sent me a letter saying my increments had been incorrectly calculated and requesting that I pay back about R32 000. I ignored the letter, thinking it was a scam. I recently received Read more >

NEWS

Global corruption snapshots: 06 August 2015

British journalist given police protection British investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, who is facing an arrest warrant in Malaysia over her reports on alleged high-level corruption, has been given police protection in London after being followed and photographed in Hyde Park. – The Independent British oil company investigated for corruption in Somalia An oil company Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

South Africa’s democracy ‘built to last’

The public protector is constitutionally mandated to investigate, report and take – not merely recommend – appropriate remedial action on improper conduct. This was again clarified by incumbent Advocate Thuli Madonsela at the recent State of the Nation business breakfast in Johannesburg. Madonsela and her fellow guest, former opposition politician and ambassador to Argentina Tony Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Rule of law must exist for effective corruption fighting

Rule of law: the absolute predominance of regular law, so that the government has no arbitrary authority over the citizen; the equal subjection of all (including officials) to the ordinary law administered by the ordinary courts; and the fact that the citizen’s personal freedoms are formulated and protected by the ordinary law rather than by Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Integrity unit to keep eye on govt – part three

In part one of our series we introduced the Public Administration Management Act, and part two highlighted positive and negative reactions to its enactment. Part three gives more detail on the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit, which is established in chapter six of the PAM Act – it will aim to “provide technical assistance and Read more >