GOVERNANCEGordhan shows way forward for cleaner public corporations 24 Aug 2018, 11:29 By David Lewis First published in Business Day Pravin Gordhan’s recent presentation to the parliamentary portfolio committee on public enterprises does indeed portend a “new dawn” for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). These massive corporations, many of which are producing critical basic goods for the country’s public and industry, have been front and centre of the plunder Read more >
OPINIONS Duduzane Zuma’s arrest a result of many contributions 20 Jul 2018, 9:24 By David Lewis First published in the Sunday Times Reading Jacques Paauw’s The President’s Keepers, I discerned two wings of the Zuma family’s commercial empire. The first could be described as their ‘business’ interests with the Guptas as their primary, if not exclusive, partners. Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane exercised oversight of these family interests. The Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS SOE shake-up on the cards – SA waits for action 28 Feb 2018, 12:32 Between the pronouncement made on planned anti-corruption efforts during his maiden state of the nation address (Sona) on 16 February this year, and his Cabinet announcement of this past Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to be serious about his administration’s planned restoration of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). It remains to be seen, however, if the interventions Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS Gordhan on BBC HARDtalk: why believe the Guptas? 29 Aug 2017, 9:26 By Gareth van Zyl First published on BizNews In an interview aired on BBC HARDtalk earlier in August, former finance minister Pravin Gordhan decried the levels of corruption in South Africa and how “disclosures” concerning one family, namely the Guptas, have revealed how the state has been hijacked. Gordhan now is just an ordinary MP Read more >
OPINIONS The descent of Jacob Zuma in 31 steps and counting 24 May 2017, 15:52 By Kavisha Pillay and Mark Hayward First published on Daily Maverick Last week, the Constitutional Court heard arguments that Parliament should either allow for, or be ordered to conduct, a secret ballot when MPs are voting in a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma. The hearing came after a weekend of storms covered Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS Cautious budget reflects political landscape 23 Feb 2017, 9:58 A lot can happen in a political year, and anyone holding Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s last two budget speeches side by side can see evidence of this. Gordhan presented his 2016/17 budget under extreme political pressure on Wednesday – amid some speculation that it may very well be his last – and thus it lacked Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS The effect of illicit financial flows on Africa 15 Jul 2016, 14:01 The problem with illicit financial flows is not just that they are illicit, but that their effect spreads far beyond their immediate area of occurrence. Millions of people are affected, economies are weakened, and development is halted, while a shady few accumulate wealth and influence. A high level conference, held on 14 July at Pretoria Read more >
OPINIONS Tackle corruption by keeping communities in the picture 03 Mar 2016, 14:43 By David Lewis Despite the perennial hype surrounding the budget, as long as we have a sane finance minister the “hard” content is inevitably pretty predictable. A good budget is generally a paragon of moderation. Unless it succumbs to special-interest pressure, it won’t slash and burn, and it won’t throw money from a helicopter. Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS Budget 2016: clampdown on state-owned entities 25 Feb 2016, 8:10 Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says government seeks to stop corruption, waste and the continued bailout of state-owned entities (SOEs). He delivered his much anticipated budget speech on Wednesday, amid cynicism over the economy. Gordhan also defended a measure undertaken by Treasury to review all contracts above R10- million. Earlier in the day, Treasury had released Read more >