Although the Zondo commission’s findings were heavily tilted towards government players, there is no doubt that private companies were also willingly complicit, and they must contribute to fixing the damage they caused. No reform of the public procurement space will be successful without their participation.
Organised retail crime is a growing international threat which involves theft, criminal gangs and syndicates, shell companies, money laundering, and real threats to public safety. Like other transnational illicit industries, a multi-faceted strategy will be most effective in fighting the problem, and must include law enforcement, retailers, financial institutions, and other relevant players.
Corruption Watch is one of the co-chairs of the newly-launched Transparency, Integrity and Accountability programme, or TIP, in South Africa. The initiative falls under the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, with support from the German and Swiss governments, and implemented locally by GIZ. It adopts a multi-sectoral approach to preventing corruption, with a focus on public procurement.
Today, 23 June, is World Whistle-blower Day, and our latest two-part mini-series highlights a new report titled Whistle-blower protection in South Africa: Where to from here?. This is part 2, which looks broadly at various recommendations to strengthen protection for reporters. Part 1 provided an overview of the protection framework in South Africa, and highlighted some of the flaws.
Today, 23 June, is World Whistle-blower Day, and our latest two-part mini-series highlights a new report titled Whistle-blower protection in South Africa: Where to from here?. The report was released in May by activism organisation Just Share, and assesses the effectiveness of legal frameworks in place to protect whistle-blowers. It also looks at various recommendations to strengthen protection for reporters.
Tomorrow, 23 June, is Africa Public Service Day, an occasion to recommit to high standards of professional ethics and prioritise the public interest. In advance of the occasion, Gauteng premier David Makhura released a report titled State of Ethics, Integrity Management and Fighting Corruption in Gauteng, which highlights provincial efforts to promote good governance and tackle corruption.
Oslo-based anti-corruption advice team U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre questioned 10 of the most commonly cited global corruption statistics. The organisation reviewed each claim, tracing it to its source and evaluating its credibility and reliability. The results were “disappointing” – but in no way do they negate the existence of the problems and in fact, may understate their extent.
The Phala Phala farm scandal, the Gupta arrests, and Hamilton Ndlovu’s overturned contracts – three big news stories of recent days which signal that the creaky wheel of justice is turning, albeit slowly. The developments bring hope that corrupt activities will no longer escape notice – law enforcement agencies are pursuing perpetrators, whistle-blowers are reporting them, and the media is paying close attention to them.
The financial position of 28% of South Africa’s municipalities is so dire that there is significant doubt whether they will be able to continue operating as a going concern in the near future – this was revealed in the 2020-21 municipal audit outcomes report, tabled earlier today in Parliament by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke. The gains made in some areas are negated by the overall grim picture.