Leading by example in the fight against corruption

By Valencia Talane Parts one and two of our new series have highlighted different aspects of being a whistleblower. In part three, we read about a man who is helping to show his community that ordinary people speaking out is an important part of fighting corruption. Chris Setusha, a teacher at Mmutle High School in Hammanskraal north Read more >

A perfect example of a revolutionary activist

By Valencia Talane In part one of our whistleblower series we got to know Cecilia Sililo-Tshishonga. In part two, we meet a man who was brave enough to stand up against corruption, and was very possibly killed for it. The story of the life of the late Moss Phakoe is one that evokes varying emotions. Read more >

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 >

Hard times and discrimination for whistleblowers

By Valencia Talane People who blow the whistle on corruption should not expect a pat on the back, because it may never come. Rather, they should act from the heart, knowing that their careers, and even their lives, may veer off in an unanticipated direction. This is the advice of Cecilia Sililo-Tshishonga, a wife and Read more >

Madonsela’s findings on Pule, Joemat-Pettersson

Public protector Thuli Madonsela released three finalised reports at a media briefing on Thursday 9 December. The reports gave details of investigations into irregular activities at the the Eastern Cape Department of Education, the Department of Communications and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Madonsela reported on the findings of an investigation into the Read more >

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 >

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 >

CPI 2013 – South Africa in the African context

Transparency International (TI) has launched its annual corruption perceptions index, and South Africa has not improved noticeably on its score of 43 and ranking of 69 for 2012. Last year the country dropped two places on the sub-Saharan Africa rankings, from seven to nine, and this year it drops another place to 10. The index Read more >

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 >