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CAMPAIGNS

Upcoming vacancy: public protector

The ad hoc committee established to nominate a candidate for the position of public protector would like to inform South Africans that the advertisement calling for nominations or applications for the post is now available. South Africans are reminded to take note of the closing time and date, which is 16h00 on 24 June 2016, Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Public protector selection process about to start

The moment that South Africans have been anticipating is almost here – next week the selection and appointment of a new public protector will officially begin with the establishment of an ad hoc committee to oversee the process. The National Assembly is responsible for the process, which must be open to public participation in terms Read more >

CAMPAIGNS

Little transparency in Parly shortlist process

On Friday 22 April, a multiparty subcommittee of Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence met to shortlist candidates applying to be the new inspector-general of intelligence (IGI) – but dismally failed the transparency test. This has important implications for our Bua Mzansi campaign, which is mobilising people to get involved in choosing the new public protector. The Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Take part in our public protector persona survey!

Public participation in the appointment of a new public protector – and other positions that require similar processes – is written into the Constitution. In chapter nine, section 193 (appointment of the public protector or member of any commission established under chapter nine) it states that “(6) The involvement of civil society in the recommendation Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Political parties: the missing link in our constitution?

By Kate O’Regan Justice of the Constitutional Court (1994 – 2009) Introduction The Constitution of the United States of America is 7 000 words long. Nowhere does it mention political parties. And that was not because the question did not arise. James Madison, in The Federalist No 10, characterised “factions”, his reference to political parties, 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

Budget: PP gets a financial boost

Public protector Thuli Madonsela will get the financial support she needs to expand her staff capacity, while a new central government tender database will come into existence in a few weeks to curb reckless public procurement. These are just two of the key governance-related announcements made by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in his maiden budget in Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

AG: no penalties for officials who abuse systems

By Valencia Talane Wasteful expenditure and the flouting of procurement processes in government will continue because there are simply no consequences for errant officials who abuse systems without shame. This is the view of auditor-general Kimi Makwetu, who on Wednesday presented the latest audit report on provincial and national departments in Cape Town. Makwetu was Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Irregular govt spending has more than doubled

At the end of October auditor-general Kimi Makwetu presented the bad news to Parliament that irregular state spending had jumped from R27.4-billion in the 2012/2013 financial year, to an inexcusable R62.7-billion for 2013/2014. Last year’s figure was bad enough, as it was a billion-rand increase from the 2012 figure of R26.2-billion. But the more than Read more >