Posts

The case against Nomgcobo Jiba

Wondering what all the fuss is around Nomgcobo Jiba, the recently appointed deputy head of national prosecutions? Read this absorbing piece by writer Rian Malan to discover why Corruption Watch and other organisations feel she is not fit to hold the position. Spare a thought for South African journalists, reduced to peering into murk and 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 >

‘Presumed innocent’ not an invisibility cloak

Dear Corruption Watch: My local councillor is being investigated for his role in corrupt tender processes in our municipality. A senior branch member of our political party told me that I should not discuss the allegations or charges because the councillor is “innocent until proven guilty”. I understand that this is an important part of Read more >

Corruption Watch and NPA’s Mrwebi go toe to toe

Source: Eyewitness News Eyewitness News (EWN) has learnt that Corruption Watch has complained to both the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Department of Justice about what it says is a threat from the NPA’s commercial crimes head, advocate Lawrence Mrwebi. Mrwebi emailed the NGO and said he could be interested in investigating its finances Read more >

New NPA head has work to do

First published on ISS Africa Once again, South Africa has a new head of prosecutions. Adv Shaun Abrahams will be the sixth head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in 10 years. Appointed by President Jacob Zuma in June, Abrahams is at the helm of arguably the most important department in the criminal justice system. Read more >

Can we blame you now, President Zuma?

By Gareth Newham, division head for governance, crime and justice, ISS Pretoria First published in the Sowetan While speaking to local government officials recently, South African President Jacob Zuma jokingly said: "Anything that goes wrong in the country it’s 'that Zuma'. I’m sure even if a person falls from a chair, [they’d say] 'this bloody Zuma Read more >

Zuma loses spy tapes appeal

In September 2013 we reported that President Jacob Zuma would turn to the Supreme Court to appeal a high court ruling that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must hand over the so-called "spy tapes" for scrutiny. News has just broken that Zuma has lost his appeal – the Supreme Court has dismissed that application, with Read more >

Spy tapes saga: the latest

President Jacob Zuma will apply in the Johannesburg high court this week for leave to appeal against the most recent ruling in the so-called “spy tapes” saga. The appeal will be heard on Friday, 6 September. On 16 August the high court in Pretoria ruled that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which is in possession Read more >

Man gets 15-year jail term for trying to bribe Sars

The South African Revenue Service sent out a stern warning against corruption today with news that a Gauteng man has been slapped a 15-year jail term for trying to bribe and then intimidate one of its officials. On Monday 15 October the Germiston Regional Court sentenced Humphrey Ngundwe to 10 years in jail on a Read more >