HEROES & ZEROES

Not scared to speak up

People who blow the whistle on corruption do not often get the recognition they would have earned through their courageous efforts. Despite this, whistleblowers from all walks of life put their names forward to help claim back the dignity and credibility that would otherwise be lost to corruption within South Africa’s public service. Whistleblowers put Read more >

OUTREACH AND EVENTS

Join us and celebrate whistleblowers

Corruption Watch, the Right 2 Know campaign (R2K), and other stakeholders will be shining the spotlight on the invaluable role of whistleblowers on Saturday 5 April. The organisations will be co-hosting a meeting in Soweto, which will feature real-life whistleblowers, including Mike and Cecilia Tshishonga, telling their stories and sharing their experiences about blowing the Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Taxpayers foot the bill for R1m worth of plant pots

Our zero this week is the embattled IEC head Pansy Tlakula, who is again making headlines after further analysis of a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers investigation into the controversial head office lease agreement for the election body has revealed that she overspent on décor for her office – to the tune of almost a million on 399 Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Thuli does it again

Our hero this week is (again) public protector Thuli Madonsela, who held her nerve in the midst of a storm of controversy and argument over her Nkandla investigation, refused to be intimidated by twitchy government officials, and produced a report that media reports have said walks a fine line “remarkably well”. On the one hand Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Help for auditors who report crime

Dear Corruption Watch, Internal auditors often have to speak out against corruption and frequently face intimidation in doing so. Is South Africa’s whistleblower framework sufficient to encourage and protect internal auditors as they perform their vital governance functions? Afraid of Bullying Dear Afraid Internal auditors occupy a unique and important position when it comes to Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Businesspeople say no to corruption

By Valencia Talane Despite the release of the ANC’s parliamentary list this week, which is peppered with discredited politicians, today we have decided to recognise heroes rather than zeroes for the week. If all citizens who fall victim to corrupt public officials were to report crimes committed against them, there would be progress in the Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Demanding accountability

Corruption affects every one of us, and often its presence impels us to make a stand, no matter the cost. Our heroes for this week are municipal workers from Moqhaka municipality in the Free State, who have been protesting intermittently since November 2013 against the alleged corrupt activities of the municipal mayor – he is Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Giving all South Africans a say in the budget

“Corruption and waste are to a large extent the result of a public-private partnership: corruption thrives where the public sector is underfunded, understaffed and withdraws from its service delivery responsibility.” If only this had been said by finance minister Pravin Gordhan when he delivered his fifth budget speech in Parliament on Wednesday. But it was Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

No action against fraudster

By Valencia Talane His boss may have told South Africa that he is not going anywhere, but public protector Thuli Madonsela found acting SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng guilty of fraud for lying about his qualifications in his CV. SABC board chair Ellen Tshabalala told the media at a press briefing on Thursday that Read more >