A decade of excessive use of consultants, neglect by political leadership, and bleak prospects for bettering governance at local government level. This is the state of our local government, unless a political intervention is sought. The latest local government audit outcomes report from the Auditor-General shows more of the same bad news.
As South Africa assumes the G20 chairpersonship, writes Dr Sunday Israel Oyebamiji for the Democracy Development Programme, an opportunity arises to strengthen institutional advocacy and enhance the effectiveness of civil society organisations in anti-corruption efforts.
Corruption Watch has asked the Public Protector to investigate the failure of Farm Worker Equity Schemes and their effective implementation. The organisation, with its partners the Surplus People Project and the Legal Resources Centre, has worked on behalf of farm workers in relation to their struggles with the schemes for several years.
The review of the White Paper on Local Government is officially under way. All stakeholders, including residents, councillors, municipal employees, business leaders, and traditional leaders, are invited to submit their comments and suggestions on the discussion document that was released in April. The deadline is 30 June 2025.
Fifteen of South Africa’s most prominent civil society organisations, including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Defend Our Democracy, SECTION27, Corruption Watch, and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, have slammed Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s recent xenophobic comments. Read their statement here.
South Africa’s immense natural resources make it an attractive target for IWT and other forms of organised crime. A new report, titled Dissecting the Environmental-Financial Crime Nexus: A Spotlight on the Illegal Wildlife Trade, discusses the financial aspects of environmental crime, and contributing factors such as corruption and weak regulatory enforcement, in South Africa and elsewhere.
Lack of clear accountability, inconsistencies in consequence management, and an executive accountability framework that is still a work in progress nearly three years after the first report of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council. This is the state of ethics and risk management and counter-corruption work in the province of Gauteng.
There is nothing wrong with reflection on experiences and challenges among countries facing similar challenges with corruption, writes Moepeng Talane for CW Voices, but it’s important to highlight the positives too. Talking about the wins, no matter how small, is both encouraging and helpful.
Advocate Andy Mothibi of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit is the new chairperson of the Association of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa. For the next year Mothibi will chair the association, which works to unite member countries in the fight against corruption, through sharing experience and expertise and strengthening cross-border collaboration.
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.