Entries by Corruption Watch

We want action against corruption, Mr President – we’ve had enough of talk

8th February 2023 in , /by

In planning his upcoming State of the Nation address, writes Corruption Watch’s Nicki Van ‘t Riet, President Cyril Ramaphosa must not only speak more forcefully on the fulfilment of anti-corruption promises made to the nation – he must place the very topic of corruption front and centre in the list of SONA priorities. Because South Africans, having heard all the smooth talk over and over, now want fast, uncompromising, aggressive, concrete anti-corruption action.

SA’s dysfunctional universities: the consequences of corrupt decisions

8th February 2023 in , /by

The crisis of dysfunctional institutions commonly arises when universities make compromised decisions on everything from tenders for infrastructure to appointments of key personnel, writes Prof Jonathan Jansen in his new book, published recently by Wits Press. “This is how institutional dysfunction begins and is sustained: through the breaching of institutional integrity.”

Lamola: Whistle-blowers’ plight receiving attention

7th February 2023 in , , , /by

The cost that whistle-blowers pay for coming forward, said justice minister Ronald Lamola, is “counter-intuitive to the laudable goals of whistle-blowing … to mainstream integrity and expose unethical organisational cultures through detection and protection”. Speaking at a conference yesterday on reforming the criminal justice system, Lamola added that those who victimise whistle-blowers are not – but should be – held accountable for their actions.

Should SA criminalise “abuse of public power”? A brief discussion

1st February 2023 in , , /by

A statutory criminal offence for the “abuse of public power” – as recommended in the second Zondo Commission report – would be a potential game changer in South Africa’s legal framework and its anti-corruption efforts, writes Natalie Keetsi for the Global Anticorruption Blog. But it is important to get it right, by careful modification of the concept, and research into similar initiatives in other jurisdictions.