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 >

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Court oversight enhances democracy

Dear Corruption Watch A few weeks ago, the Constitutional Court declared the R10-billion contract for the payment of social grants between the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and Cash Paymaster Services invalid. The court ordered Sassa to rerun its tender process and suspended the declaration of invalidity pending the new tender process. It also Read more >

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Reviewing a public protector’s report

Dear Corruption Watch Many targets of investigation by the public protector — for example, Tina Joemat-Pettersson in her handling of the state’s fishing vessels and Pansy Tlakula in her actions at the Independent Electoral Commission — demand that the courts “review” her findings. What is the role of a court in relation to the public Read more >

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Parliament has leeway on Nkandla

Dear CW Parliament has appointed an ad hoc committee to consider the public protector’s Nkandla report before the elections. What exactly does this mean? What powers does this committee have and what is Parliament’s role in relation to the public protector? Wondering Dear Wondering The speaker established an ad hoc parliamentary committee on 9 April Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Officials invoke imaginary rule

Dear Corruption Watch My organisation has submitted two applications for information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act. We have been told we cannot have the documents we requested because the issue will likely be the subject of criminal charges. Is this sufficient grounds for not disclosing information we believe to be in the Read more >