Bribery: it just doesn’t pay

By Zaheer Cassim For some South Africans paying a bribe is the efficient way to get things done. It’s a basic transaction whereby someone provides a service and, in return, is compensated. But this is no lawful contract and many people are learning the hard way that dealing with corrupt individuals through bribery is not Read more >

Joburg shows us its bribery-beating plan

Corruption Watch met with senior officials from the City of Joburg recently to advocate for urgent and stronger action against corruption and bribery in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). The meeting was a follow up on the April launch of Corruption Watch’s ‘No more tjo-tjo campaign’ and the release of ‘The law for sale’ Read more >

Whistleblowers: champions of our times

Silence is golden – or so goes the expression, but at what cost does it come in the face of rampant corruption? This is the question three South Africans may have asked themselves as they took the risk of deliberately exposing rot in government structures. All three must have known that their whistleblowing could have Read more >

Gauteng ‘big spenders’ probe results out

By Chantelle Benjamin Over the months we’ve been bringing you updates on the investigations into Gauteng Local Government and Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi and Speaker Lindiwe Maseko, who both came under fire for alleged misuse of public funds. The latest is that the province’s integrity commissioner Ralph Mgijima and the provincial privileges and ethics committee Read more >

Local government gets the ‘zero’ treatment

Local government, that is municipalities, are responsible for providing the most basic, yet essential services in this country – housing, sewage facilities, waste management, roads, water sanitation and key public security functions, among many others. When the financial units of these institutions are shown to be riddled with mismanagement, lack of accountability and corruption, service Read more >

Corruption Watch is hiring!

We're currently advertising three available posts at Corruption Watch – (1) Data and Analysis Manager, (2) Journalist and (3) Communications Officer. Apply by submitting a covering letter motivating your application for the position, a detailed CV, three contactable references and, in the case of application (2), two examples of published print articles (preferably investigative or Read more >

Anti-graft regulations: how to ensure compliance

SA’s latest anti-corruption weapon Section 43 of the regulations:   Section 43 of the regulations, accompanying the Companies Act, brings South Africa into line with an agreement with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which requires that certain measures be taken to combat and prevent corruption.   South Africa and 142 other countries Read more >

New anti-graft rules: SA firms to take note

By Chantelle Benjamin South African firms are now accountable for the actions of the companies they contract to when it comes to corruption and are prohibited from funding political parties, according to new regulations for the Company Act, issued quietly last year. Read the guidelines to ensure regulations compliance here. Local companies are also bound Read more >

AG’s report paints grim view of local govt

Auditor-general Terence Nombembe gave a grim view of financial management at local government level this week, with just 30% of municipalities making progress in addressing internal control disciplines. Nombembe said he “remains concerned about 70% of municipalities where the basics of key controls have not yet been mastered”. Nombembe tabled his 2010-11 general reports on Read more >