Posts

African leaders loot with same fervour as colonialists

Corruption is well-entrenched in Africa, and those few leaders who have decided to actively tackle it – beyond just talking about tackling it – have publicly admitted that the task is a lot harder than they expected. Last year’s Panama Papers breakthrough revealed the names of numerous African politicians and their friends and families, who Read more >

Former Wits dean probed for fraudulent deals

By Ayanda Mkhwanazi The Hawks are investigating a former Wits University dean and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) head for his alleged role in the laboratory’s procurement of HIV testing kits worth R18-million, that never arrived. Professor Ahmed Wadee has been at the centre of the investigation since January, when the NHLS laid criminal charges against Read more >

Unknowingly a house owner – for 16 years

Part one of our housing series examined the challenges faced by the Department of Human Settlements, and in part two we read of various strategies aimed at improving operations in the department. Part three features a Corruption Watch reporter who has become the victim of human settlements' bungling. When John Twala* heeded a call from Read more >

Corruption Watch is hiring – investigative journalist

Investigative journalist   Opportunity closing date:   Monday, May 19, 2014 Opportunity type:   Employment Corruption Watch is a civil society organisation that gathers, analyses and shares information on corruption in South Africa and supports a more engaged and active civil society. Corruption Watch, based in Johannesburg, is currently seeking to appoint an investigative journalist to work Read more >

Corruption Watch exposé leads to suspensions

By Zaheer Cassim Three officials at Dr JS Moroka municipality near Witbank in Mpumalanga have been suspended after a Corruption Watch investigation exposed some very dodgy spending by procurement clerks employed by the municipality. Corruption Watch was alerted to the case when the accounting officer at a private company, who had been involved in supplying Read more >

Unpacking SA’s education crisis – part six

In this, our sixth and final instalment on the unfolding education saga, we ask what lessons have been learned from the Limpopo textbook crisis to avoid a similar breakdown in the future, both from the government’s perspective and civil society. We look at systematic problems in the education system that affected the Eastern Cape, as Read more >

Expert: Neo Africa could face criminal charges

The report by Neo Africa will come under scrutiny when whistleblower and former Limpopo Education general manager of budget Solly Tshitangano takes his unfair dismissal fight to court. In its report, Neo Africa cleared senior department officials of irregularities relating to the EduSolutions contract – a conclusion not shared by other investigations. A legal expert Read more >

Unpacking SA’s education crisis – part four

In this, the fourth of our six-part series on the unfolding education crisis, we pick apart the roles and powers of the various investigative and administrative agencies involved with the Limpopo case, and identify what they are doing to resolve the crisis. Media professionals are free to use all copy and photographs from this series Read more >

Big thinkers meet to dissect SA’s corruption

“If there is political will we will eradicate corruption in this country,” proclaimed Steven Powell, a former specialist prosecutor for the Department of Justice and director of the forensics arm of law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenberg. “We have to introduce an independent corruption fighting body that will investigate anyone without fear of victimisation.” Powell was Read more >