Malawian journalist Gregory Gondwe recently blew the whistle on a questionable government transaction for military vehicles. He was immediately targeted by police and military police and is now in hiding. His perilous situation is sadly typical of the risks faced by journalists around the world who expose corruption, but Gondwe says his commitment remains firm.
Steinhoff continues to refuse to provide access to a 7 000-page PwC report that uncovers much of its shady doings, writes Caroline James for amaBhungane. This hampers journalists’ ability to tell the full story – and means that citizens and pensioners, the victims of his actions, will not know how or why their savings took the colossal knock they did.
South Africa has achieved its lowest-ever score on the Corruption Perceptions Index, released on 30 January 2024 by Transparency International. Scoring a miserable 41, the country falls below the global average and now sits in the category of ‘flawed democracies’.
The Parliamentary Monitoring Group’s 2023 review of Parliament includes discussion of a March motion of no confidence against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the cabinet reshuffle in the same month, the removal of the former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and internal disciplinary matters, among many others.
The Independent Electoral Commission will hold its second – and final – voter registration weekend on Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 February 2024. Registration will be possible at 22 300 voting stations countrywide, between 08h00 and 17h00, on both days.
Welcome to our first update of the year on all things state capture and the state capture commission and the implementations of its recommendations. This update includes the investigation into Judge Nana Makhubele’s fitness to hold office, SAP’s R2.2-billion restitution payment, Sars’ efforts to extract accountability from Gupta associate Salim Essa, and investigations into auditing companies that may have aided the Guptas.
Transparency International releases its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) on Tuesday, 30 January 2024. The 2023 CPI will assess how countries have responded to corruption over time, with a specific focus on how weakening justice systems contribute to a lack of accountability for public officials, thereby allowing corruption to thrive.
Seven months after the City of Tshwane announced its intention to blacklist Edwin Sodi’s companies for their failure to deliver on a lucrative tender to upgrade the Rooiwal wastewater plant, the companies still do not appear on National Treasury’s register of restricted suppliers. Corruption Watch has written to the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, seeking answers.
Parliament has extended the window for public submissions on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill – submissions will now be accepted until and including 15 February 2024. Among other aims, the Bill seeks to address the weaknesses identified through the Financial Action Task Force process, including measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, by empowering the national security structures to investigate and conduct a security assessment if a person or institution is of national security interest.