Posts

LEGISLATION AND SUBMISSIONS

Party funding act useless if not enacted

By Pierre de Vos First published on Constitutionally Speaking Political parties in South Africa tend to resemble Eskom: they burn through piles of cash but seldom deliver as promised. Some of this cash comes from “donations” made to political parties (or to political leaders) by individuals and businesses (think Gavin Watson and Bosasa or Adriano Read more >

HEROES & ZEROES

Well-run municipal elections produce a host of heroes

Our heroes for the week are all those who contributed to the smooth running of the 2016 local government elections. An election doesn’t only happen on the voting day, but takes many months of preparation and work behind the scenes. A typical election cycle includes steps such as the confirmation of procedures and municipal boundaries, voter Read more >

OUTREACH AND EVENTS

Activators lead in issues of national interest

By Lwazi Nongauza Gauteng Activators joined dozens of young people from Gauteng in robust dialogue about youth participation in elections, at Corruption Watch’s third Integrity Lecture last week. The event took place in Braamfontein at Constitution Hill on 23 October. The Corruption Watch youth campaign event Youth To The Polls was hosted by human rights Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Can a changed electoral system boost accountability?

By Judith February In South Africa, it’s becoming a matter of routine for presidential question time to be disrupted. Recent scenes in the National Assembly left little room for doubt – as if there was any after the chaos of the state of the nation address in February ­– that Parliament is fast losing the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Minions merely follow the leader

By Kabelo Sedupane The resignation of IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula reveals that there are consequences to the flouting of procurement rules and unethical conduct – however, the question remains as to whether the unauthorised expenditure of public funds should necessitate further investigations and harsher sanctions. Within a culture of rampant abuse of public funds, the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Tlakula gives up the fight

It has taken a while, but embattled Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Pansy Tlakula has resigned. “Her resignation opens the way for the Commission to begin closing a particularly challenging and tumultuous period in the Electoral Commission’s history and to move forward as an institution,” said the IEC in a statement. In March this year Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Tlakula did make inappropriate moves

Corruption Watch has reported before on the questionable leasing deal entered into by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) – a deal that saw the IEC in 2009 signing a contract to rent its new head office building in Centurion, at a cost of R320-million over 10 years. In October 2011 the United Democratic Movement's Bantu Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Tlakula is missing the point

By Nicola Whittaker Recently, the spotlight has been on two pillars of our democracy, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Office of the Public Protector.  At the heart of the fight is a contract entered into by the IEC, now Chaired by Advocate Pansy Tlakula, and Abland (Pty) Ltd for the lease of the Read more >