The business of killing – organised assassinations in SA

In recent years South Africans have been stunned by a spate of murders of high-profile individuals – gangsters and crime fighters alike. We think immediately of Babita Deokaran in 2021, Muzi Manyathi in 2022, Cloete and Tom Murray in 2023, Mpumalanga crime boss Clyde Mnisi also in 2023 and his widow two days after his Read more >

Comment on National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is calling for written comments on the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill [B31-2022]. The bill seeks to establish an independent, multi-sectoral national council which will co-ordinate and implement a coherent national strategic plan to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. It was Read more >

Auditor-General welcomes withdrawal of Eskom exemption

Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke, in a statement issued on Wednesday 5 April 2023, has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to withdraw the controversial exemption of Eskom from section 55(2)(b)(i) of the Public Finance Management Act and Treasury Regulation 28.2.1 for three years. This exemption meant that the struggling power utility would not have had to Read more >

Zim to investigate gold smuggling after Al Jazeera expose

Image: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe By Yarno Ritzen and Al Jazeera Investigative UnitFirst published on Al Jazeera The government of Zimbabwe says it will launch investigations into several people involved in gold smuggling and money laundering following the release of an undercover Al Jazeera investigation showing high-ranking officials involved in the illicit gold trade. Gold Mafia, a four-part Read more >

Ditsobotla is a symptom of SA’s ignored local govt problem

The local municipality of Ditsobotla in the North West’s Ngaka Modiri Molema District has made news headlines over the past few months for the wrong reasons. From being placed under administration in September 2022, to its financial challenges leading to failure in paying contract workers’ salaries – the latter problem led to said workers invading Read more >

Addressing a gap – how to better support civil society

By Kersty McCourtFirst published on Open Government Partnership Robust and vibrant civil societies play a critical role in contributing to development. Civil society helps shape policies, advocate for the needs and demands of citizens, provide essential services, protect human rights, and strengthen public participation in democracy. Yet, over the past decade, there has been insufficient Read more >

Transparency of donations to intra-party political campaigns is a must

By Natalie KeetsiFirst published on the Global Anticorruption Blog In South Africa, the Political Party Funding Act (the PPFA) regulates campaign donations and expenditures to political parties. By imposing various limits and transparency requirements, the PPFA – which is overseen by South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) – is supposed to prevent corruption and other Read more >