INVESTIGATION

Challenging the system on behalf of refugees

By Valencia Talane Seeking solutions to the problem of corruption at refugee reception centres seems to be an increasingly challenging task for many organisations working in the field of refugee and asylum seeker rights. Hundreds of cases of vulnerable asylum seekers are documented regularly by such organisations with the hope that a change in policy 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 >

HEROES & ZEROES

Motsoeneng does it again

Our zero this week is the acting COO of the SABC, the outspoken and controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng, for suggesting that the media are only focusing on corruption because the country has a black-led government. His statement was made at the annual Joburg Radio Days conference that’s taking place at Wits. As was the case with 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 >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Kayla Norsworthy is leading by example

By Janine Erasmus Just two years out of school, 20-year-old Kayla Norsworthy is intent on making her mark in her community. She recently became a member of R2K – the Right 2 Know campaign – where she works with other young people in her area. She's also a member of the South Durban Community Environmental Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Revive plan for bureau to root out corruption

Opinion: Nicola Whitaker New Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane appears to be confronting head-on his department’s task of transforming the public service into an "effective service delivery machine". Last week, the Business Day reported that Chabane sees rooting out corruption as part of his department’s normal work. On this score, he highlights the 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 >

HEROES & ZEROES

NW premier aims to clamp down on corruption

Our hero this week is the new premier of the North West province, Supra Mahumapelo, for taking a positive stance in improving standards of governance. He’s just announced his intention to set up a forensic and fraud investigations unit to tackle corruption in the province. Mahumapelo urged all members of his executive council to report Read more >

INVESTIGATION

Corrupt officials make life tough for refugees

By Valencia Talane In May 2012 home affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni stated in Parliament that the department had noted progress in the implementation of the Refugees Amendment Act of 2011. The focus of his presentation before the portfolio committee on home affairs was the state’s improved ability to track the records of applicants of asylum Read more >