Streamlined cabinet: gender balanced but still not clean

The cabinet of the sixth administration was announced last night, and President Cyril Ramaphosa kept to the expectation – to a degree, but not completely – that he would cull those found to be unsuitable, or that were surplus to requirements. “We have made progress in examining the size and structure of the state, and Read more >

Passports for sale: the risks of golden visa programmes

By Natalie Ritchie    First published on the Global Anticorruption Blog In 1984, the government of the small Caribbean island state of Saint Kitts and Nevis had a bright idea for attracting foreign capital: the country would grant permanent resident status to any foreign national who invested a sufficient amount in the country. The idea caught Read more >

Better times ahead for NPA, Batohi, Cronje assure public

The revitalisation of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is under way. On Friday the recently appointed national director of public prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, briefed the media on progress in this regard, and also made way for Advocate Hermione Cronje, the newly appointed head of the investigating directorate within the NPA, to shed light on Read more >

Activists protest against Prasa corruption

By Mary-Anne Gontsana and Katherine Liu First published on GroundUp Simo Kwepe was 16 when he was killed on the Cape Town Metrorail line last month. Keeno Abib died last year after he fell off a moving train while trying to get away from gangsters trying to rob him. It’s deaths such as these that Read more >

What does the employer, the voter, want to see now?

By Malusi MpumlwanaFirst published on City Press It is up to the electorate to take charge and ensure public servants hold true to their oath of office by choosing the nation’s interests over party politics. It is worth noting Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s remarks on receiving the list of candidates for national and provincial legislatures Read more >

Will Zuma’s fate on corruption charges finally be decided?

The man who took the meaning of ‘teflon’ to a new level is in court this week in what some are calling his last chance to avoid prosecution. Former president Jacob Zuma has been evading corruption and racketeering charges for 10 years, and so far all attempts to make the charges stick have been unsuccessful. Read more >

Uncooperative education depts stall CW investigations

By Kwazi Dlamini When we investigate a report, it is of paramount importance for us to give a right of reply to anyone implicated. However, this comes with a lot of waiting and non-responses, especially from government departments, and the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) is no exception. It is not unheard of for Read more >

Trust inequality at all-time high globally

The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer (ETB) reveals that trust levels have changed significantly in the past year. The ETB measures levels of trust in four main institutions – business, the government, media, and NGOs – in 27 countries around the world. A further 15 sectors, ranging from entertainment and automotive to energy and financial services, Read more >

How NA and prov. legislature seats are calculated

All calculations are contained in Schedule 1A of the Electoral Act, 73 of 1998 South Africans don’t vote for individuals – they vote for parties who then elect the individuals they think would do the best job in representing the people. The proportion of representation a party has in Parliament is calculated according to a Read more >