A change in political leadership would make little difference to development without a major reform of the public service, writes political science researcher and lecturer Dr Marcel Nagar. However, South Africans going to the polls on 29 May would do well to consider at least getting the right people into those leadership positions, so that the reform can begin in earnest.
Politicians often play on voters’ desperation and sensitivities to garner support, turning up at strategic times with food parcels and free t-shirts to distribute to vulnerable people, or invoking veiled threats and stereotypes in their messaging to appeal to gullible constituencies.
A new research report, released today by Corruption Watch, highlights the perceptions and experiences of corruption among ordinary people in South Africa. The report shows, among others, a widespread belief that government is not doing enough to address corruption in the provision of basic services, and a clear demand for stricter consequences for corrupt behaviour of government officials.
How is it possible, writes Kirsten Pearson, that in a climate of corruption, where there are regular news articles about allegations of corruption in public procurement processes, there are no suppliers on the tender defaulters register? Is this because of bureaucratic bungling, failure of enforcement, a lack of will, or something else?
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is no stranger to the importance of Parliament’s governance structures, having been part of them since the first parliament of the democratic dispensation in 1994. Why then, has he not navigated the controversy around the Takatso matter with the exemplary conduct of someone with such vast experience?
Civil society organisations have called for respect for the law, ahead of the Constitutional Court hearing on Friday 10 May, in which the Independent Electoral Commission is appealing an Electoral Court judgment that dismissed an objection to the National Assembly candidacy of former president Jacob Zuma. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Corruption Watch, and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution are appearing as amici curiae.
Secrecy enablers are pushing back against the hard-won gains in enhanced corporate transparency. A new report from the Tax Justice Network shows that they are weaponising the rights to privacy and data protection to prevent access to information by the public and by competent authorities – but also shows that their arguments are easily debunked.
On Wednesday 15 May 2024, Corruption Watch releases a new report titled The Impact of Corruption: Insights from a Perceptions and Experiences Survey. The research team worked with a select group of respondents to gauge the overall perceptions of corruption in South Africa, and to touch on direct experiences of corruption and interaction with officials and leaders from various levels of government and business.
A new report by GI-TOC reveals how the growing extortion economy in the Western Cape fuels violence and fear, damages the formal and informal economy, disrupts critical development projects, interferes with basic service delivery, undermines the rule of law, and further erodes trust in the government. If not dealt with speedily and effectively, says the report, it will develop into a parallel system of criminal governance throughout the country.
Visit our GivenGain R20 for Change page and help us demand transparency in our systems, accountability in our leaders, and better empowerment and protection of whistle-blowers. By donating R20 a month, you’ll be supporting our work with communities across the country, helping them to know and access their rights and reduce the corruption that robs people of resources intended for their benefit.