CW weighs in on draft FIC amendment bill

Corruption Watch has made submissions on the draft Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) amendment bill. The treasury published the bill on 21 April, and invited public comment until 31 May. The bill was approved by Cabinet on 15 April. “We are generally impressed by the commitment by the National Treasury and FIC to deal with the Read more >

Open data is a key factor in fighting corruption

An open, democratic government system that gives its citizens access to information on its plans, its spending patterns and its services – it's the ideal that the world’s open data advocates work towards daily, for the nations that need it. Whether or not they will win the war against administrative secrecy remains to be seen, Read more >

Madonsela responds to Nhleko’s Nkandla report

Source: Public Protector The public protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, notes police minister Nathi Nhleko’s report to Parliament on the security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s private residence in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. She is of the view that Minister Nhleko gave the matter his best and that he applied his mind to the issues at hand. The Read more >

One thing taxpayers won’t be liable for

Dear Corruption Watch: New day, new allegations of corruption levelled against the top brass of our parastatals. Invariably, the defamed chairperson or CEO vociferously denies the allegations and threatens to sue for defamation. If he or she does decide to sue, can the state-owned company foot the legal bill? T (for tired-of-paying-legal-bills) Taxpayer. Dear T Read more >

Two non-leaders take joint zero

President Jacob Zuma and Fifa president Sepp Blatter are our joint zeroes of the week for this week, for reasons that do not stray far from the obvious: they both showed lack of leadership at very crucial times for their administrations. On the same day that the biggest scandal rocked the world’s largest sporting body, Read more >

Zuma doesn’t have to pay back the money

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko yesterday gave his report-back on the Nkandla upgrades. At a press briefing punctuated by educational videos on the use and meaning of various features at Nkandla, Nhleko revealed his conclusion: President Jacob Zuma does not have to pay back any of the money. Nhleko’s report stems from a recommendation by the Read more >

Global corruption snapshots: 29 May 2015

Fifa corruption scandal: What happens next? The unprecedented twin investigations into FIFA have demonstrated that the opaque organization is subject to the law, not above it. – CNN Renowned Angolan journalist sentenced on libel charge The internationally renowned Angolan investigative journalist Rafael Marques de Morais has been given a six-month suspended sentence after the Luanda Read more >

Zuma doesn’t have to pay back the money

President Zuma has been exonerated by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, who briefed the media on his Nkandla report. Image source: GCIS Police Minister Nathi Nhleko yesterday gave his report-back on the Nkandla upgrades. At a press briefing punctuated by educational videos on the use and meaning of various features at Nkandla, Nhleko revealed his conclusion: Read more >

Nkandla report crafted to exonerate President Zuma

The release of Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s Nkandla report yesterday, and its conclusion that President Zuma is cleared of all obligation to pay back any of the costs associated with the upgrade of his personal home, was met with dismay by Corruption Watch. It highlights the current trend that allows, if not encourages, our leaders Read more >