Entries by Corruption Watch

State capture: FS asbestos trial off to a tricky start

24th April 2025 in , , /by

Update: The Free State High Court has granted Ace Magashule’s former personal assistant Moroadi Cholota the opportunity to challenge the jurisdiction of the court as it pertains to her case, as well as the legality of her extradition from the United States to face trial in South Africa. She was extradited in August last year and has maintained that South African courts cannot try her due to the manner in which she was brought back. The case has been postponed to June.

The ParliMeter, a new tool for enhancing public participation in Parliament

17th April 2025 in , , /by

The Parliamentary Monitoring Group recently unveiled its latest digital tool, the ParliMeter. The platform uses open data sourced from Parliament to help residents and parliamentarians alike by improving access to information, enhancing transparency and therefore monitoring capabilities, and empowering civil society and residents to hold their elected representatives accountable.

Youth empowerment is key in corruption fight

16th April 2025 /0 Comments/in , /by

We need more young people in the fight for accountability in the public sector, and for that to happen, they need to know what this accountability looks like, writes Moepeng Valencia Talane for CW Voices. Accordingly, Corruption Watch’s Strengthening Action Against Corruption project, based in the Eastern Cape, recently trained young activists in advocacy work, communications, and media, and how to hold each other accountable as part of the project’s Youth Ambassador for Accountability (YAfA) programme.

Extreme wealth tax could boost the fiscus and help fight corruption

16th April 2025 in , /by

Extreme wealth is a threat to democracy, says the Tax Justice Network – and it is not alone in this view. The organisation is one of several voices calling for an extreme wealth tax to be imposed worldwide on the super-rich. This would not only help to address wealth inequality but also have spillover positive effects on crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and corruption, through the simultaneous enforcement of beneficial ownership transparency.

New drone fleet to further protect SA’s borders

11th April 2025 in , , /by

A new fleet of border patrol drones, announced this week by Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber, will monitor South Africa’s borders on a full-time basis. The devices can lock onto heat sources, such as people and moving vehicles, can travel at speeds up to 43 kph, and can operate in remote rural areas. Data from the festive season trial period, said Schreiber, shows a 215% increase in the number of attempted illegal crossings that were successfully prevented during that time.

Addressing gender-based corruption challenges across Africa

10th April 2025 in , , /by

Participants at a recent Transparency International online event discussed gender-based corruption and the challenges it throws in the path of affected individuals across Africa, especially in relation to healthcare, education, and access to land. Proposed solutions ranged from community-level interventions and collaborative approaches involving governments, communities, and civil society, all the way up to the progressive taxation of multinationals.

How can Parliament be better? Pari researches and advises

8th April 2025 in , /by

The Public Affairs Research Institute’s new policy brief, titled Oversight in Parliament: The Role of Committees, aims to identify ways in which Parliament’s committees can work more effectively in carrying out their executive oversight obligations. This oversight is crucial for ensuring that service delivery takes place as promised and where this does not happen, that government is answerable to the people it serves – so that all citizens can live a better quality life.

Let South Africa’s people have their say in leadership appointments

4th April 2025 in , , , /by

The provision for the public to participate is a core value that underpins public participation in Parliament’s framework, writes Corruption Watch’s Moepeng Talane. A recent case brought by Corruption Watch to the Constitutional Court, relating to the appointment of candidates to the Commission for Gender Equality, argues that in this instance, the public were not allowed sufficient time or information with which to make an informed decision on the nominees.