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CW pressure takes party funding act a step closer to reality

In a letter addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa in early December 2020, Corruption Watch raised concerns that there were potentially interests opposed to the Political Party Funding Act, 6 of 2018, and working to ensure that it would not be implemented. If true, the organisation deems such intentions unlawful and unconstitutional, and it is not Read more >

Gcaleka one step away from DPP appointment

• The nominated deputy public protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka. Image: Mail and Guardian. By Thato Mahlangu The parliamentary committee on justice and correctional services announced on 27 November 2019 its recommendation of Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka as the new deputy public protector (DPP). Now that her recommendation has been endorsed by the National Assembly, Gcaleka only needs Read more >

How NA and prov. legislature seats are calculated

All calculations are contained in Schedule 1A of the Electoral Act, 73 of 1998 South Africans don’t vote for individuals – they vote for parties who then elect the individuals they think would do the best job in representing the people. The proportion of representation a party has in Parliament is calculated according to a Read more >

The Public Audit Act amendment bill – what’s it about?

In part one of our new two-part miniseries on the public audit, we dealt with the audit outcomes for 2017/2018, performed under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and tabled on 21 November in Parliament by Auditor-General (AG) Kimi Makwetu. In part two, we focus on the Public Audit Act (PAA) amendment bill, that was Read more >

PFMA audit results: overall deterioration again

Our new two-part miniseries focuses on the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) audit outcomes for 2017/2018, tabled yesterday in Parliament by Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu, as well as the Public Audit Act (PAA) amendment bill that was signed into law a few days ago. On Tuesday 20 November, the Government Gazette carried the announcement that President Read more >

MPs have constitutional duty to hold executive to account

The long-awaited vote of no confidence – the eighth such effort – against President Jacob Zuma takes place later today under a secret ballot. This follows a Constitutional Court ruling in June that set aside Speaker Baleka Mbete’s initial reasons for not agreeing to a secret ballot. Mbete said her decision was taken with the Read more >

Democracy showcase makes parly committee our hero

Our heroes for this week are the members of the parliamentary ad hoc committee to select a new public protector. Given what is arguably a far from easy task – transparently and constitutionally appointing the best person to replace one of South Africa’s most admired public figures – the members deliberated robustly and sometimes heatedly, Read more >

Meet the shortlisted public protector candidates

The shortlisted candidates vying for the public protector position have been announced by the ad hoc committee established to recommend a person for the appointment. The 14 shortlisted candidates are as follows: Judge Sharise Weiner Judge Sirajudien Desai Adv Kevin Malunga Adv Nonkosi Cetywayo Adv Mhlaliseni Mthembu Adv Madibeng Mokoditwa Adv Mamiki Goodman Adjunct Prof Read more >