LEGISLATION AND SUBMISSIONS

Corruption Watch makes submissions for PDA

Corruption Watch made submissions yesterday in Parliament on the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA) amendment bill, which was published in December 2015. This act sets out the procedure that must be followed when public and private sector employees disclose information about unlawful behaviour in the workplace, and how those employees must be protected. Delegations from the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Zuma pays back the money, but the damage is done

President Jacob Zuma has paid back the R7.8-million of taxpayers’ money used to improperly upgrade non-security parts of his private home at Nkandla, but this is not the end of the story. Some remain sceptical about the transaction and say they want proof that it was above board. The EFF is particularly suspicious about the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Nair’s Pikitup job trashed – MD fired

Some time ago we reported on the shady goings-on at Pikitup, and mentioned that the entity’s board had decided to institute disciplinary proceedings against its MD Amanda Nair. Nair had been involved in several controversies including an irregular R260-million tender awarded to a company which had previous negative findings against it in a forensic investigation. Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

One more step for incoming public protector

Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane is one step away from being named as South Africa’s new public protector. Last night the National Assembly gave her the 60% majority yes vote that she needed to make her appointment all but permanent. Her nomination was officially approved with 263 votes in favour to 79 against and one abstention. President Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

South Africa needs an integrity commission

by Advocate Paul Hoffman Commentators and the twitterati are abuzz, describing the symptoms of the war of attrition at present, in progress in and between the centres of power in the South African body politic. General anxiety in the land has spawned local use of the hashtag #Where do we go from here? Martin Luther Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Crime stats gloss over corruption

The latest crime statistics were presented to Parliament today, with acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and minister Nkosinathi Nhleko putting a positive spin on the information. According to them, the crime situation has improved, with seven of the country’s provinces showing an overall decrease in crime. “The downward trend in crime statistics shows that Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Technology can boost active citizenship – if chosen well

By Indra de Lanerolle First published in The Conversation – Africa Civic technology initiatives are on the rise. They are using new information and communication technologies to improve transparency, accountability and governance – faster and more cheaply than before. In Taiwan, for instance, tech activists have built online databases to track political contributions and create channels for public Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Democracy showcase makes parly committee our hero

Our heroes for this week are the members of the parliamentary ad hoc committee to select a new public protector. Given what is arguably a far from easy task – transparently and constitutionally appointing the best person to replace one of South Africa’s most admired public figures – the members deliberated robustly and sometimes heatedly, Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Is this our new public protector?

Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, an analyst at the State Security Agency, was yesterday selected by the parliamentary ad hoc committee in charge of appointing a new public protector, as the most suitable candidate to take over from Thuli Madonsela. Madonsela’s non-renewable seven-year term ends on 19 October 2016. From the start Corruption Watch intended to ensure Read more >