South Africa is a country that struggles with sanctioning large-scale financial crime. A Magnitsky Act would help significantly in this regard, as it would allow the government to more effectively pursue and sanction those who abuse financial systems and human rights for their own illegal purposes – so why don’t we have one?
Corruption Watch (CW) will release its 12th annual corruption report, titled Changing the Landscape, on Wednesday 3 April 2024. In this election year, the message to South Africans, as outlined in CW chairperson Themba Maseko’s message, is to not remain passive, but to take the opportunity to demand accountability and help change the landscape in a country that is in dire need of relief from corruption and failing service delivery.
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke briefed Parliament earlier in March on progress made in terms of material irregularities, saying there was some forward momentum and resolution although 82% of notices issued to entities had not yet seen action. The South African Post Office and the Department of Defence are under the spotlight at the moment for not taking steps to prevent the loss of public money and for buying equipment which was not being used, respectively.
National Treasury’s local government revenue and expenditure report for Q2 of the 2023/24 financial year, released on 18 March 2023, reveals some interesting trends. Among other matters, the report shows a low spend on important conditional grants such as the Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant, with less than 13% of the budgeted amount spent over half the financial year.
Banks and auditors have turned a blind eye to the money looted over more than a decade from Prasa into the pockets of greedy and powerful figures, write Ra’eesa Pather and Qiqa Nkomo in this Open Secrets exposé. The masterminds behind the looting, now living in luxury while South African commuters struggle with a hopelessly inadequate rail system, are scrutinised in this second article of a three-part series.
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Special Investigating Unit to ensure continuation in the seventh parliament of state capture and corruption cases already before the committee. The move will also strengthen the relationship between the two entities.
In our latest state capture update: The much talked-about ANC candidate list is out and has analysts talking, as has the party’s latest sanction of a sitting deputy minister. Civil society also weighs in on life after the Zondo commission, pointing out its wins and losses in a reflective report.
We know that a new Parliament arises after each general election – so what actually happens to the previous Parliament? This brief explanation has the answers.
Open Secrets has released the first in their new series of articles on corruption in Prasa’s dealings with a front company called Swifambo Rail Leasing. This article focuses on Spanish technology company Vossloh, which made R1.8-billion through a dubious partnership with Swifambo, Open Secrets reveals, and has not paid back a cent.
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.