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PUBLICATIONS

SIU investigations into water dept are progressing

Towards the end of June the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) received an update from the Special Investigating Unit on its investigations into the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). Cases discussed included Mhlathuze Water Board, Vuwani Steel Pipeline, Lepelle Northern Water, Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, the DWS SAP licence contract, Umgeni Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Water dept to provide clarity on corruption investigations

By Thato Mahlangu The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) wants the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to pull up its socks and conclude investigations that relate to fraud and corruption cases. During a committee meeting held in Parliament on Tuesday 26 May 2020, Scopa’s chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said DWS should have dealt speedily Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Scopa takes Eskom to task for corruption, mismanagement

By Kwazi Dlamini The parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has made its presence felt in overseeing the operations of state-owned entities (SOEs) by embarking on a visit to two power stations operated by the embattled electricity supplier Eskom at the end of August. Scopa members visited both Kusile and Medupi power stations amid Read more >

LITIGATION

Sassa turnabout on CW’s legal challenge

The decision by the South African Social Services Agency (Sassa) to oppose legal action by Corruption Watch over irregular expenditure incurred in 2015 for the re-registration of beneficiaries by Cash Paymaster Service (CPS) was deemed irrational by the agency, leading to its recent withdrawal from the case. CEO Thokozani Magwaza conceded as much to the Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

State employees benefit from irregular business with govt

The Office of the Auditor-General (AGSA) recently expressed concern to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) that there have been no consequence for public officials doing business with the state, despite recommendations made years ago on how best to address the issue. Government has paid out millions over the past decade or so to Read more >

GOVERNANCE

CW condemns SASSA’s pointless litigation

Corruption Watch (CW) condemns a decision by the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) to withdraw from opposition to legal action that challenged a R317-million payment to social grants distributor Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) on the basis that it was irregular. CW views the conduct as wasteful of public resources, following two years of litigation Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Parliament: Sassa/CPS setup must be investigated

UPDATE: Sassa has withdrawn its application to the Constitutional Court for an extension of the contract with Cash Paymaster Services. The agency says it will lodge the case again – but time is running out. Read more about this development.   The South African Social Services Agency’s (Sassa) relationship with social grants service provider Cash Read more >

LITIGATION

Parliament grills Sassa for answers

The executive leadership of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) endured the hot seat in Parliament recently to answer questions on the financial health of the agency and its spending history in the 2015/16 financial year. The agency logged a total of R1.1-billion in irregular expenditure, Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) 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 >