What is clearly missing in the South African response to fighting corruption is emphasis by all actors on the importance of building a culture of integrity, writes Corruption Watch’s Kavisha Pillay. We need personal integrity where individuals question and account for their own daily actions.
In questioning the selection of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies’ candidates for appointment to the SABC board, President Cyril Ramaphosa overstepped his authority. This raises questions, writes Kwazi Dlamini, about his understanding of his role in such processes.
As part of the evaluation of its anti-money laundering framework by the Financial Action Task Force, South Africa was allowed to present a report to the watchdog’s International Co-operation Review Group on the findings of the evaluation report and the plan of action in addressing them. But since every single country to date which has been subjected to that additional process has ended up on the grey list, it was almost a foregone conclusion that South Africa would find itself in the same situation.
Soon after he took office, President Ciryl Ramaphosa announced lifestyle audits for Cabinet members, to reassure the public of his administration’s bold stance against corruption. Five years later, writes Moepeng Talane, South Africans are still waiting for these specific audits to happen.
Former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter earned the ire of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts in an appearance before it on 26 April. The meeting was based on the e.tv television interview De Ruyter gave in February, in which he alluded to senior political figures being part of corruption at the power utility. However, he would not yield to Scopa’s request for names of the implicated parties.
Freedom of expression underpins all other freedoms, says Unesco, custodian of World Press Freedom Day, which marks three decades of existence this year. “This year’s special 30th anniversary celebration is a call to recentre press freedom, as well as independent, pluralistic, and diverse media, as necessary key to the enjoyment of all other human rights.”
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in legal instruments all around the world. The 30th celebration, on 3 May, of World Press Freedom Day provides an opportunity to emphasise the role of freedom of expression and media freedom as enablers of all other human rights, and to underscore the indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated nature of all human rights.
Veteran television and film producer Duma Ndlovu will not receive the prestigious National Order of Ikhamanga. Following a countrywide outcry over the artist’s implication in state capture, President Cyril Ramaphosa withdrew the nomination – but questions must be asked as to how Ndlovu passed muster in the first place.
Without effective criminal investigation and prosecution of those alleged to have taken part in the illicit crimes that South Africa committed to fighting with the Financial Action Task Force, the country runs the risk of being viewed as doomed to fail in bringing corruption under control. The state’s recent double state capture-related failure – the Nulane trial, and the FATF greylisting – highlight the many gaps that exist in its ability to tackle the problem.