Mpumalanga poultry project a disturbing echo of failed Vrede Dairy

By Kwazi DlaminiFirst published on Maverick Citizen A state-funded poultry farming project in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, meant to help develop the local economy, is embroiled in financial distress and factional battles, allegedly caused by public officials meant to manage it. The matter has since reached the courts.   The KwaMhlanga Poultry Project (KPP) is mired in allegations Read more >

Employees let down by failed promise of TERS economic relief

The release of the Corruption Watch Covid-19 TERS Corruption at Work report today highlights the experiences of whistle-blowers short-changed by employers in delivering what was promised as temporary economic relief during Covid-19. The Temporary Employer / Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) was introduced during the national hard lockdown as one of a range of economic stimulus Read more >

Uncooperative education depts stall CW investigations

By Kwazi Dlamini When we investigate a report, it is of paramount importance for us to give a right of reply to anyone implicated. However, this comes with a lot of waiting and non-responses, especially from government departments, and the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) is no exception. It is not unheard of for Read more >

Municipalities avoid explaining irregular procurement

In part two of our local municipality mini-series, we describe investigations relating to some municipalities which were reported to us for irregular procurement processes. Part one dealt with the 2019 Government Performance Index, released recently by Good Governance Africa. Corruption Watch gets most of its reports from people wanting to expose corruption in provincial government Read more >

CW report highlights flaws in the mining royalties system

Today Corruption Watch (CW) launched its 2018 Mining Royalties Research Report, highlighting the complexities and challenges in the management and distribution of mining royalties to people living in mine-affected communities, the majority of whom remain without any tangible benefits.  Since 2004, South African law has decreed that mineral and petroleum resources belong to the people Read more >

Tshwane metro corruption a problem

By Kwazi Dlamini Corruption and the City of Tshwane metro municipality are no strangers to each other. In August last year municipal manager Moeketsi Mosola was suspended on allegations of corruption and tender irregularities, even as Corruption Watch (CW) was investigating other cases of corruption reported to be taking place at the municipality. However, in November Read more >

Tribunal: enough evidence to warrant further investigation

Today the People’s Tribunal on Economic Crime delivered its final findings to the public during an event at Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill. The tribunal sat earlier this year with the intention of focusing on three periods in South Africa’s history – the apartheid years, the 1999 arms deal, and state capture. Once the interim report was Read more >

Mnquma Local Municipality – a failure of governance

By Kwazi Dlamini Corruption-ridden Mnquma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, together with its district municipality, Amathole, seems to be in tatters. Mnquma is off the radar – it cannot be reached by the usual forms of communication, while e-mail addresses provided on the website are unresponsive. The telephone number, also provided on their website Read more >