DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

When attorneys take dirty money in trust

Dear Corruption Watch, You’ve been writing about tracking the proceeds of corruption. I’m told that law firms maintain large trust accounts for their clients. Is this not also a way of hiding, or laundering, the proceeds of corruption? Curious Dear Curious The trust account is an essential part of an attorney’s practice. By law, any Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Nepotism must be tackled

Dear Corruption Watch, I see that Deutsche Bank is under investigation to see whether it hired the children of Chinese government officials as a way to win contracts. This follows the arrest of the head of investment banking in China at JP Morgan Chase for the same possible violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Banks keep watch for ill-gotten gains

Dear Corruption Watch, We read a lot about the families of foreign dictators buying expensive properties in South Africa. No doubt many wealthy South Africans similarly have large personal bank accounts in other countries. How do we know that these inward and outward flows are not the proceeds of corruption? Neighbour Dear Neighbour, You are Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Getting a grip on irregular expenditure in municipalities

Dear CW I am constantly reading about ‘irregular expenditure’ and ‘fruitless and wasteful expenditure’. What does this all mean? The Financial and Fiscal Commission said recently a whopping R4.7-billion was wasted in public healthcare spending. While few public servants with their hands in the cookie jar are prosecuted, fewer still seem to be held accountable for what also seems to be a Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Wads of cash place legal onus on seller

Dear Corruption Watch, I was recently in a jewellery store when a customer walked in, selected a number of valuable pieces, took wads of cash from his briefcase, paid for his purchases and walked out. A friend of mine working in a similarly upmarket estate agency tells me that high-end properties are often purchased for Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Laws are good, their enforcement not

Dear Corruption Watch, In what ways would your organisation like to see the new administration strengthening the legal and regulatory framework aimed at combating corruption? Observer Dear Observer, The biggest problem is not in the content of the law. It is our inadequate enforcement owing to a lack of political will and suitably skilled law Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Friends of the court bring new perspective

Dear CW, You were one of two NGOs who intervened in the case around suspected corruption in the tender for administering social grants. How does an NGO go about doing this? Why did the court agree to hear you when it had two well-resourced contesting parties before it already? Wasn't it a waste of time, Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Blow the whistle on dodgy companies

Dear Corruption Watch How do we deal with allegations of corruption by South African companies abroad? Does our legislation cover such acts and what can be done to stop it, because it is affecting business and our country’s reputation? — Embarrassed Dear Embarrassed Corruption by South African companies operating abroad is addressed under South Africa’s Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Where the NPA stands on Mdluli

Dear Corruption Watch It seems the Supreme Court of Appeal has found that the decision to withdraw corruption charges against Richard Mdluli, former head of police crime intelligence, was not sound. Am I correct that it has ordered the National Prosecuting Authority to re-examine its decision? What will this entail? And can the NPA go Read more >