Anti-corruption programmes must fit the issue

By Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church The second instalment in the four-part CDA Perspectives series on corruption, criminal justice and legitimacy looks at the mismatch between anti-corruption programmes and the problems they are supposed to tackle. When programming does not fit the issue it is meant to address, creating significant change becomes highly unlikely. Part one of the Read more >

Electoral integrity in Africa – why does it matter?

In South Africa, the Electoral Act contains an Electoral Code of Conduct aimed at promoting “conditions that are conducive to free and fair elections” and that create a climate of tolerance, free political campaigning, and open public debate. The Independent Electoral Commission oversees the country’s election process and will be expected to uphold the values Read more >

Understanding and combating corruption

By Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church This four-part series on corruption, criminal justice and legitimacy was first published on the CDA Perspectives blog – this is a platform for people working in the fields of humanitarian assistance, peace practice, sustainable development and corporate operations in contexts of conflict and fragility. The blog provides an outlet for these professionals Read more >

CW urges public participation in selecting new protector

Following the recent announcement of the nominated candidates for the post of public protector by Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Corruption Watch urges the public to participate in the appointment process by endorsing or raising objections to candidates by 16h00 on 8 July 2016. The ad hoc committee placed adverts in newspapers across the country, calling Read more >

Nominees and applicants for the public protector announced

The ad hoc committee established to nominate a person for the appointment of public protector has announced the long-lost of candidates for the post. The committee received a total of 73 nominations and applications – seven candidates declined their nomination while others were not contactable so they could accept the nomination. These, and a number Read more >

Zuma gets his Nkandla bill

Jacob Zuma’s portion of the Nkandla bill is a scant R7.8-million, says the National Treasury. The state purse-keeper submitted its report to the Constitutional Court on Monday, keeping to the deadline of 28 June. The amount is the equivalent of three years’ presidential salary. It now lies with the Constitutional Court to approve the determined Read more >

Zuma, NPA denied leave to appeal

A full bench of the North Gauteng High Court has dismissed the application by President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officials for leave to appeal the spy tapes ruling. In April, the North Gauteng High court found the prosecuting authority’s decision to drop corruption charges against Zuma was irrational, and set aside Read more >

Meet your public protector ad hoc committee

The political parties which comprise the ad-hoc committee. On 24 May the National Assembly appointed an ad-hoc committee to oversee the appointment process for a new public protector. The non-renewable seven-year term of incumbent Thuli Madonsela comes to an end in October 2016 and a successor must take over. After weeks of scrutinising, shortlisting and Read more >

Reforming party finance in SA: exploring the options

By Gary Pienaar and Collette Schulz-Herzenberg First published on Human Sciences Research Council Money plays a fundamental role in a democracy. Political parties need to reach their constituencies and inform them of their policies. Not disclosing private donations can lead to corruption, cronyism and policy capture, but would disclosing donations necessarily increase public trust? In Read more >