HEROES & ZEROES

Zuma, Madonsela top our hero-zero poll

By Valencia Talane It is a case of history repeating itself: Corruption Watch’s annual hero-zero of the year poll has revealed public protector Thuli Madonsela as the readers’ choice for corruption hero of the year for a second year, while President Jacob Zuma emerged again as the zero of the year. At the centre of the Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

2013 Corruption Snapshots

By Kavisha Pillay 2013 has been a year tainted with allegations of corruption of all kinds, many of which made newspaper headlines across the country. Corruption Watch takes a look at this year’s big corruption-related stories. JANUARY  North West legal fees – 2 January The North West’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) announced that Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Vote for your Hero and Zero of the Year

It’s that time of the year again, when we ask you to vote for your top zero or hero for 2013. Last year President Jacob Zuma topped the zero poll, and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was by far the most popular choice of hero. The candidates for Hero / Zero of the Year 2013 are Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Whistleblowers: ordinary people turned heroes

Today, 9 December, is International Anti-Corruption Day. The day aims to raise public awareness of corruption and what people can do to fight it. This year’s theme is Zero Corruption – 100% Development, meaning that corruption is a barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, because it diverts funds away from desperately needed facilities and Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

A life well lived

What more can be said about our hero of the week? Former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela, who passed away peacefully at his home in Johannesburg on Thursday night, surrounded by his family, was a committed fighter for human rights, and for justice and equality for all. Mandela was 95 when he Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

SA stable in CPI, but results far from comforting

The 2013 global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) compiled by Transparency International reveals that South Africans’ perceptions of the level of corruption have remained stable over the past two years. South Africa is ranked 72 out of 177 countries surveyed and scored 42 out of 100. In the 2012 CPI the country ranked 69 out of 176 countries, with Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

A man of integrity

Our hero this week is former auditor-general Terence Nombembe, who ended his seven-year, non-renewable term on 30 November. Nombembe has led his department with integrity, he's held leaders accountable, and has not minced words on how corruption and wasteful expenditure affects the poor, At a farewell function held early in November in his honour at Parliament, Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Protector of the people’s interests

The public protector, Thuli Madonsela, is tough, fearless and respected. She takes her office very seriously and is determined to carry out her mandate to the best of her ability – a stance that sometimes sees her going head to head with government figures. Madonsela and government ministers were recently involved in a highly publicised Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Gravy train rolls to a halt

Today is D-Day – or should that be C-Day – for politicians. In October, finance minister Pravin Gordhan reported in his mid-term budget speech that government credit cards would soon be a thing of the past, as existing ones would be cancelled and no new ones would be issued. This is one of the measures Read more >