DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Free speech versus respectful criticism

Dear Corruption Watch, The public protector, like so many political figures, endures name-calling and occasionally vicious attacks. Is she able, like a judge, to charge her detractors with contempt? Concerned Dear Concerned, The legislature has given public protector statutory protection against such attacks. Contempt of the public protector is an offence. The Public Protector Act Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Pursuit of corruption has its inspiring moments

By David Lewis We at Corruption Watch are often asked whether we don’t find our job depressing. The question assumes that spending each day dealing with the seamier side of human conduct and confronting an insoluble problem must be a depressing experience. It’s not at all depressing. On the contrary, it is quite uplifting. First, while we Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Seriti Commission must be fair to both sides

Dear Corruption Watch, I have been following the Seriti Commission hearings into the arms deal and have a couple of questions: if there is general dissatisfaction with the procedures, are the process or outcomes subject to judicial review? How will the findings Judge Seriti makes be enforced? And is a commission subject to the same Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

It’s hard to defame a South African politician

Dear Corruption Watch, Businessman Hugh Glenister’s Constitutional Court appeal calls President Jacob Zuma a “corrupt crook” and his government “extremely corrupt”. The president, in turn, calls this defamatory. Can you please explain the law of defamation? When does name-calling become illegal? What recourse do people have and are different standards applied to senior public officials? Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

OECD convention not just a nice-to-have

Dear Corruption Watch, I recently came across a report damning our lack of compliance with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention that South Africa ratified in 2007. It says out of a mere ten foreign bribery allegations that have come to light our government has prosecuted exactly zero. We have until October to write a self-assessment report. What is the OECD convention Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

What happens when Thuli leaves in 2016?

​Dear Corruption Watch, I am a great supporter of our current public protector, who seems to have done her best to investigate and report on corruption in the government. What happens when her term of office comes to an end? How can we ensure that an impartial person is appointed to this important position? Non-biased Read more >

DEAR CORRUPTION WATCH

Are Madonsela’s powers in jeopardy?

Dear Corruption Watch, Last week, members of Parliament’s justice portfolio committee made some worrying statements to the public protector. According to reports, ANC members accused Thuli Madonsela of “taking certain postures” and expressing “certain views” that were about the government and “political in nature”.  The ANC also suggested that there should be a review of Read more >

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 >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Five years on, Phakoe case is still wide open

The formerly convicted killers of Rustenburg councillor and corruption fighter Moss Phakoe may have been released, but the case is by no means over. So say trade union federation Cosatu and the family of the murdered man, who are questioning the competence of the South African Police Service (Saps) in investigating the case. However, the Read more >