SA making progress on beneficial ownership, but CSOs left out

South Africa launched its latest Open Government Partnership (OGP) action plan, covering the period 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2018, on 6 May 2016. This was the country’s third national action plan since joining the OGP programme, which provides a platform for governments and civil society to work together to develop and implement ambitious Read more >

ConCourt holds Sassa accountable for second CPS contract extension

The Constitutional Court today handed down a further judgment in the seemingly never-ending matter of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and Cash Paymaster Services (CPS). Today’s judgment did not relate to personal costs arising from the Section 38 inquiry, presided over by Judge Bernard Ngoepe, into former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini and Read more >

Gordhan shows way forward for cleaner public corporations

By David Lewis First published in Business Day Pravin Gordhan’s recent presentation to the parliamentary portfolio committee on public enterprises does indeed portend a “new dawn” for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). These massive corporations, many of which are producing critical basic goods for the country’s public and industry, have been front and centre of the plunder Read more >

It’s Time – A FunDza / Corruption Watch story

Together with the FunDza Literacy Trust, we now publish our sixth youth-targeted story, It’s time for us to eat, a story about doing the right thing, even if it means your dreams will take a little longer to be realised. Catch up with our previous youth-focused stories, also produced in partnership with FunDza – Innocence Read more >

Zondo Commission into state capture gets off the ground

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State   This inquiry, known as the Zondo Commission, was appointed on 23 January 2018 by former president Jacob Zuma in terms of section 84(2)(f) of South Africa’s Constitution. Its purpose is to investigate allegations Read more >

Holding power to account in the school governing body

He came, he learned, and now he leads. In early May this year, soon after the end of the national school governing body (SGB) elections held across South Africa, *Jomo Sithole visited the Corruption Watch office with a lot of questions and an eager mind. He was determined to learn as much as he could Read more >

CW celebrates today’s ConCourt ruling on Abrahams’ appointment

Corruption Watch (CW) celebrates today’s ruling in the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) that invalidates former president Jacob Zuma’s appointment of Shaun Abrahams as the national director of public prosecutions (NDPP). The court found that the manner in which Abrahams’ predecessor, Mxolisi Nxasana, was removed from office was unconstitutional and invalid, thus rendering Abrahams’ subsequent appointment invalid. Read more >

ConCourt confirms invalidity of Abrahams’ appointment as NDPP

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga today handed down judgment in the Constitutional Court, in the matter of the position of the national director of public prosecutions (NDPP). Corruption Watch, Freedom Under Law and later, the Council for Advancement of the South African Constitution, had challenged – successfully – the legality of the termination of former NDPP Mxolisi Read more >

CW’s 2018 Analysis of Corruption Trends report – now available

In 2017 we released our first Analysis of Corruption Trends (ACT) report, which identified five common areas where corruption frequently occurs – in schools, local municipalities, the South African Police Service (SAPS), licensing centres and traffic departments. This year’s ACT report, titled It’s Time to Act, shows more of the same. More abuse of power Read more >