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.
The National Prosecuting Authority has a state capture prosecutions headache, but its head Shamila Batohi is confident that the organisation will get things right. This state capture update features a small, but important, development in the Free State asbestos case, and the election list of the ANC that contains state capture accused.
While we ponder our choice of whom to give our vote to on 29 May, it is useful to understand Parliament’s function as lawmaker and the role that we as voters play in that process – this is part of being an active citizen, one that will not be afraid to make their mark on the ballot paper when the time comes.
Millions of South Africans still struggle daily to have their basic human rights upheld and respected. Amnesty International’s 2024 annual report reveals our leadership’s flagrant disregard for people’s right to health and safety, education, freedom, and more. With the nation going to the polls on 29 May, voters have an opportunity to collectively shape the future of the country and vote for human rights, says the organisation.
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.