SA’s constitutional democracy under threat?

Source: Institute for Security Studies The recent attacks on South African public protector Thuli Madonsela, in relation to her report on the investigation into the R210-million upgrade to President Jacob Zuma’s private Nkandla homestead, should raise alarm bells for those who value South Africa’s constitutional democracy. After attempting to interdict the public protector from releasing her Read more >

Nkandla story not yet over

The presidential homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, is once more in the news, not only because of the ongoing squabble between public protector Thuli Madonsela and the the police, defence, state security and public works ministers, but also because of previously undisclosed documentation that has just come to light. Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence (JSCI) Read more >

Departments acting against financial corruption

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has submitted to Parliament its annual fact sheet on finalised cases of financial misconduct, from national and provincial government departments, for the 2011/2012 financial year. The PSC, a government organisation that investigates, monitors and evaluates the organisation and administration of the public service, has been tracking such finalised cases since Read more >

Macosa: school of shame

By Gcina Ntsaluba It’s an accepted fact that, for various reasons, the national basic education department is under-performing, and the ones who stand to lose the most are the children. The lack of furniture at Eastern Cape schools, particularly, is one of the major problems crippling learners and teachers, mostly in rural schools in the Read more >

Schools quintile system to change?

By Lee-Ann Collingridge So far we have examined the roles of school principals and governing bodies, and explained how no-fees schools work. In the third of our schools articles we discuss the categorisation of schools for the purpose of government funding. For the last 17 years, all public schools in South Africa have been funded Read more >

How money is managed at no-fee schools

By Lee-Ann Collingridge In our previous article we detailed the roles of principals and school governing bodies in managing a school. In this article we move on to explaining the rules pertaining to the management of funds at no-fee schools. Like Section 21 schools, no-fee schools are supposed to pay for everything i.e. textbooks, stationary, Read more >

Charter to improve standards of public service

By Kabelo Sedupane South Africa faces critical challenges in its public service – we only have to look at recent events involving public servants of all levels, to understand this. These challenges deeply affect the lives of all the country’s citizens. Many of these recurring challenges are rooted in corruption, maladministration and inefficient governance and Read more >

Ministers are subject to the law

Dear CW Following the arrest of two officials in her department, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant recently spoke out against corruption. It’s all good to be fighting corruption in departments but shouldn’t we be starting at the top? Are there any laws that govern the conduct of ministers and if so, what can be done if Read more >

Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer 2013

The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 draws on a survey of more than 114 000 respondents in 107 countries. It addresses people’s direct experiences with bribery and details their views on corruption in the main institutions in their countries. It also provides insights into people's willingness to stop corruption. Download the Global Corruption Barometer 2013 (4.5MB Read more >