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CORRUPTION NEWS

First Nene budget due today

Last year this time then-minister of finance Pravin Gordhan impressed the nation when he delivered his medium term budget policy statement (MTBPS). Gordhan announced, among other developments, that severe austerity measures were to be put in place to cut down on wild spending. Today his successor Nhlanhla Nene presents his first medium-term budget, also known Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Public Works comes clean on misuse of public funds

The Department of Public Works has confirmed extensive misuse of public funds within its ranks – at a media briefing last week, Minister Thulas Nxesi said that investigations had uncovered a shocking R35-billion in wasteful expenditure, some of it going back 13 years. Public Works (DPW) is responsible for managing the accommodation needs of government Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

It’s not what you know, but …

By Janine Erasmus Nepotism, cadre deployment, patronage, cronyism – we hear those terms often, but what do they mean, not just literally, but for South Africa? Why are these practices so harmful, especially in the public sector? Read our new two-part series to better understand the consequences of not employing the right person for the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Minions merely follow the leader

By Kabelo Sedupane The resignation of IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula reveals that there are consequences to the flouting of procurement rules and unethical conduct – however, the question remains as to whether the unauthorised expenditure of public funds should necessitate further investigations and harsher sanctions. Within a culture of rampant abuse of public funds, the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Cabinet’s first 100 days sees some progress

The RDP housing database will have a modern, organised structure that will be managed by the State Information Technology Agency, while correctional services personnel will go back to school in an effort to professionalise the sector. It has only been three months, but the Cabinet appointed by President Jacob Zuma in May seems to be Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Madonsela, Muthambi see eye to eye

Source: Public protector The public protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, and the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, met in Pretoria on Wednesday, 20 August 2014. The meeting was in connection with the investigation into the alleged irregular appointment of the controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng as permanent COO of the SABC, as well as other matters of mutual Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Protector to work more closely with state

On 14 August the public protector launched her annual stakeholder dialogue, with the aim this year of building stronger working relations between her office and other organs of state. The 2014 theme is Joining hands in a partnership against maladministration and corruption. Speaking at the Wits Business School, Thuli Madonsela remarked that the timing of Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

It’s hard to defame a South African politician

Dear Corruption Watch, Businessman Hugh Glenister’s Constitutional Court appeal calls President Jacob Zuma a “corrupt crook” and his government “extremely corrupt”. The president, in turn, calls this defamatory. Can you please explain the law of defamation? When does name-calling become illegal? What recourse do people have and are different standards applied to senior public officials? Read more >