Posts

SA lags in using open data for anti-corruption

Transparency International (TI) recently launched its G20 Anti-Corruption Open Data Studies, which assesses how countries in that group are implementing the G20 anti-corruption open data principles. The main objectives of the study were to establish how much progress G20 governments have made in implementing open data as part of an anti-corruption regime; what are the Read more >

Information Regulator gets off the ground

In November last year we reported on the establishment of the Office of the Information Regulator. This body falls under the Protection of Personal Information (Popi) Act, which serves as South Africa’s data protection act. Popi itself is not yet in force, but sections pertaining to the Regulator were put into effect through a presidential Read more >

Track your municipality’s financial performance

An informed citizenry is an empowered citizenry. Whether you’re someone who wants to exercise your civic responsibilities and get involved in how your municipality is run, or whether you just wish you could understand the complexities of the system a little better, we have put together a list of useful tools that will help you. Read more >

Open tender process shines light on procurement

The Gauteng provincial government (GPG) hosted its first open tender seminar recently, showcasing the progress the province has made in rolling out its open tender project over the past two years. The event was also aimed at encouraging other provincial governments and municipalities to adopt the process. Attendees came from the public and private sectors Read more >

Corruption Watch welcomes Mkhwebane’s appointment

06 October 2016 Corruption Watch congratulates Advocate Busisiwe Joyce Mkhwebane on her appointment as the new public protector. Mkhwebane was officially appointed today by President Jacob Zuma. Her seven-year term takes effect on 15 October 2016. Early this year, Corruption Watch launched a mass public awareness campaign, Bua Mzansi, aimed at ensuring that the selection Read more >

OGP marks 5 years, but faces coordination challenges

South Africa, with the other seven founding members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), this week celebrated the initiative’s fifth anniversary. The OGP was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform that enables domestic reformers to make their governments more open, accountable, responsive to citizens, and corruption-free. Since then, the OGP has grown from Read more >

One more step for incoming public protector

Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is one step away from being named as South Africa’s new public protector. Last night the National Assembly gave her the 60% majority yes vote that she needed to make her appointment all but permanent. Her nomination was officially approved with 263 votes in favour to 79 against and one abstention. President Read more >

Democracy showcase makes parly committee our hero

Our heroes for this week are the members of the parliamentary ad hoc committee to select a new public protector. Given what is arguably a far from easy task – transparently and constitutionally appointing the best person to replace one of South Africa’s most admired public figures – the members deliberated robustly and sometimes heatedly, Read more >

Is this our new public protector?

Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, an analyst at the State Security Agency, was yesterday selected by the parliamentary ad hoc committee in charge of appointing a new public protector, as the most suitable candidate to take over from Thuli Madonsela. Madonsela’s non-renewable seven-year term ends on 19 October 2016. From the start Corruption Watch intended to ensure Read more >