DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Beware the professionally corrupt

Dear Corruption Watch, Many corrupt transactions either require professionals to execute them, or leave them in a position to be aware of them. Lawyers, engineers, auditors and doctors agree to adhere to professional codes of ethics. Theses codes should mean that those professionals party to corrupt activities should be unable to continue to practice, don’t Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Called to account…or court

Dear Corruption Watch, What is the difference between criminal and non-criminal corruption? Isn’t all corrupt behaviour a criminal offence? Where are the lines drawn? Mystified Dear Mystified, This question gets to the heart of what we mean when we talk about fighting corruption.  The answer depends on how you define “corruption”.  First, corruption can be Read more >

OPINIONS

Bill against corruption deserves public’s support

By David Lewis Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has injected a new sense of urgency and determination into government efforts to tackle corruption. The gazetting of the Public Administration Management Bill is evidence that this is more than talk. This legislation is potentially an obstacle to corruption at least as great as the Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Inauspicious start for arms inquiry

Dear Corruption Watch What do you think of the judicial commission of enquiry into the arms deal? Is it likely to uncover the corruption that occurred during the arms deal, or is it just another way for those who benefited to cover it up? Interested observer Dear Interested observer At the level of principle, the Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Clean-up bureau can benefit SA

Dear Corruption Watch, I’ve been reading about Lindiwe Sisulu’s proposals to establish an anti-corruption bureau to clean up the public service at all levels of government and tackle businesses offering to corrupt its members. I want to believe this is not just an election year proposal – what do you think? Hopeful   Dear Hopeful, Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Global treaties a useful tool for fighting graft

Dear Corruption Watch,   I see there are a number of international covenants and protocols to do with fighting corruption ranging from the UN, the AU, the OECD and SADC (I’m sure there are others, too). Can you please tell me which, if any, South Africa has signed and whether they’re binding in any way, i.e. will we as a society face consequences Read more >

OPINIONS

Rebuilding trust is the hard part

By Nicola Whittaker The total settlement with 15 companies is in excess of R1.4bn. Aveng, Murray & Roberts, Stefanutti Stocks and WHBO are all individually coughing up in excess of R300m to pay for their sins. Or the sins of their past — and now happily retired — employees, if we are to believe statements Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Collusion is corruption

By David Lewis The past week has been a ­watershed in two related perceptions of corruption in South Africa. The first is that the private sector bears little responsibility for corruption. The second is that no good news regarding corruption ever comes out of the public sector. The notion that the private sector was, at Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Graft can violate our human rights

Dear Corruption Watch, A lot of organisations claim that corruption is a violation of human rights. Can you please explain this? It seems to me that it also undermines any right stipulated in the Bill of Rights because it effectively pulls the rug out from under public commitments and diverts resources. Do you agree? Law-abider Read more >