Corruption and Accountability

Beyond CR17 - Problems With The Executive Members’ Ethics Act And The Executive Ethics Code

This is the last in a three-brief series. The first brief dealt with the relationship between donations towards campaigns within political parties and the Executive Ethics Code. The second brief discussed the reasons for disclosure of these donations. This brief considers problems with the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code.

What CR17 Teaches Us - The Need To Know Who Donates To Politicians’ Internal Party Campaigns

This is the second in a three-brief series. The first brief dealt with the relationship between donations towards campaigns within political parties and the Executive Ethics Code. This brief will discuss the reasons for disclosure of these donations. The third will consider problems with the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code.

Laying The Groundwork - CR17 And The Challenge To The Executive Ethics Code

This is the first in a three-brief series and it deals with the relationship between donations towards campaigns within political parties and the Executive Ethics Code. The second brief will discuss the reasons the disclosure of these donations is essential and the third will consider problems with the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code.

Unveiling The Power Behind The Throne: Who Are The Special Advisers?

This brief considers the need to know the identities of persons advising members of the Executive, and highlights the difficulty the Helen Suzman Foundation experienced when we attempted to acquire this information.

Ace Magashule v the ANC or How not to use the Courts to Settle Political Scores

This brief considers the principles at play in the legal battle between ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, and his party. In his court application, Magashule attempts to overturn his suspension and in turn suspend ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Conflict between Minister and National Commissioner raises concerns about Minister’s role in appointments process

This brief examines the role played by the Minister of Police in senior appointments in the police service and asks whether this role is constitutionally appropriate.

Department seeks to amend the legislation governing the public service, but squanders the opportunity for meaningful reform

This brief examines the Department of Public Service and Administration's proposed amendments to the legislative scheme governing the public service. It is argued that the amendment bills fall short of what is required to professionalise the public service and end corruption.

A Missed Opportunity: President Ramaphosa Signs The IPID Amendment Bill Into Law

In this brief, Kimera Chetty discusses the significance of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill which was recently signed into law by President Ramaphosa.

Report: Conference On Fast-Tracking The Implementation Of The UNCAC In Southern Africa

This brief describes the process employed to create a set of recommendations to fast-track the implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption in Southern Africa. This process commenced at a regional conference held in Livingstone, Zambia in October 2019.

Spotlight On Accountability III: Accountability Categorised

This brief is part of a series that takes ‘accountability’ to its roots by explaining fundamental aspects of the concept, and provides a guide on how to assess accountability mechanisms for effectiveness.

Spotlight On Accountability II: Accountability Mechanisms

This brief is part of a series that takes ‘accountability’ to its roots by explaining fundamental aspects of the concept, and provides a guide on how to assess accountability mechanisms for effectiveness”

Spotlight On Accountability I: The Meaning Of Accountability

This brief is part of a series that takes ‘accountability’ to its roots by explaining fundamental aspects of the concept, and provides a guide on how to assess accountability mechanisms for effectiveness.

Lindela And South Africa’s Defective Deportation Regime

What is going on at the Bosasa-run Lindela Repatriation Centre - South Africa's single specialised holding facility for irregular immigrants awaiting deportation? This brief investigates the country's notorious deportation regime and its custodians – the South African Police Service, the Department of Home Affairs and Bosasa.

Professional Service Industries: Facilitating Malfeasance For A Fee IV - The Next Steps For Professions

This brief series looks at four professional services industries - law, auditing, accounting, and management consulting - and the role that they play in facilitating corruption and malfeasance.

Professional Service Industries: Facilitating Malfeasance For A Fee III - What Has Gone Wrong?

This brief series looks at four professional services industries - law, auditing, accounting, and management consulting - and the role that they play in facilitating corruption and malfeasance.

Professional Service Industries: Facilitating Malfeasance For A Fee II - Constraints On Professional Conduct

This brief series looks at four professional services industries - law, auditing, accounting, and management consulting - and the role that they play in facilitating corruption and malfeasance.

Professional Service Industries: Facilitating Malfeasance For A Fee I - Understanding Professions

This brief series looks at four professional services industries - law, auditing, accounting, and management consulting - and the role that they play in facilitating corruption and malfeasance.

The Political Economy Of Corruption

Pierre de Vos published an article entitled Why Ramaphosa is probably not in a position to end corruption and patronage in Daily Maverick on 29 April, drawing on a study by Wits Professor Karl von Holdt. This brief discusses the completeness and the plausibility of their arguments.

China’s Loans to South Africa - Brief V

This is the final brief in a series of five that takes a look at South Africa’s recent loans from China; it looks at why the BRICS Bank was not used, on what basis government is able to refuse disclosing further information on the loans, and finishes with a conclusion for the series.

China’s Loans to South Africa - Brief IV

This is the fourth brief in a series of five that takes a look at South Africa’s recent loans from China; it is a summary of the lessons learned from the experiences of the six countries analysed, which have also taken on Chinese debt.

China’s Loans to South Africa - Brief III

This is the third brief in a series of five that takes a look at South Africa’s recent loans from China; it looks at the experiences other countries have had with Chinese debt, namely Zambia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

China’s Loans to South Africa - Brief II

This is the second brief in a series of five that takes a look at South Africa’s recent loans from China; it looks at the experiences other countries have had with Chinese debt, namely Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Argentina.

China’s Loans to South Africa - Brief I

This is the first brief in a series of five that takes a look at South Africa’s recent loans from China. This brief is an overview of South Africa’s debt situation, how the loans from China fit into this, and why we need to look at the experiences other countries have had with Chinese debt.

Companies Amendment Bill, 2018: Our submission to the Department

This brief summarises the Helen Suzman Foundation’s submission to Department of Trade and Industry regarding the Companies Amendment Bill, 2018. It proposes that in order to promote openness and transparency, the Companies Act should be amended to allow the public to access share registers by request to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.

Eskom’s latest tariff application - Our Submission to the National Energy Regulator

This brief contains a summary of the Helen Suzman Foundation’s submission to the National Energy Regulator on Eskom’s latest tariff application. It describes the extremely serious financial situation in which Eskom finds itself and the strategic issues that need to be addressed.

Conversations About Corruption II - Technology, Education, Public Mobilisation And Practical Steps

This brief - the second part in a two-part series - explores the discussions and ideas shared by stakeholders such as government, civil society, academia, and the public about how to combat endemic corruption in South Africa

Conversations About Corruption I - The National Anti-Corruption Strategy And Procurement Reform

This brief - the first part in a two-part series - explores the discussions and ideas shared by stakeholders such as government, civil society, academia, and the public about how to combat endemic corruption in South Africa

Whistle-blower Protection: Does South Africa Match Up? - Part IV

This brief is the fourth in a four part series. The first two briefs consider South Africa's legislative provisions for the protection of whistle blowers against Transparency International's Best Practice Guidelines for Whistleblowing Legislation. The third and fourth briefs discuss procedures and systems which can be used to ensure that those who report wrongdoing are shielded from needless detriment.

Whistle-blower Protection: Does South Africa Match Up? - Part III

This brief is the third in a four part series. The first two briefs consider South Africa's legislative provisions for the protection of whistle blowers against Transparency International's Best Practice Guidelines for Whistleblowing Legislation ("TI Guidelines"). The third and fourth briefs discuss procedures and systems which can be used to ensure that those who report wrongdoing are shielded from needless detriment.

Whistle-blower Protection: Does South Africa Match Up? - Part II

This brief is the second in a four part series. The first two briefs consider South Africa's legislative provisions for the protection of whistle blowers against Transparency International's Best Practice Guidelines for Whistleblowing Legislation. The third and fourth briefs discuss procedures and systems which can be used to ensure that those who report wrongdoing are shielded from needless detriment.

Whistle-blower Protection: Does South Africa Match Up? - Part I

This brief is the first in a four part series. The first two briefs consider South Africa's legislative provisions for the protection of whistle blowers against Transparency International's Best Practice Guidelines for Whistleblowing Legislation. The third and fourth briefs discuss procedures and systems which can be used to ensure that those who report wrongdoing are shielded from needless detriment.

Structural Interdicts: An Effective Means Of Ensuring Political Accountability?

Incapacity. Incompetence. Pure recalcitrance. Intentional non-compliance. Corruption. These are among the most egregious reasons for any government’s inability to create and implement policies to achieve the purposes set out in legislation.

This brief deals with the most recent statements and studies on the issues of state capture and corruption in South Africa, which have led to a greater overall understanding of their impact and pervasiveness.

This Brief looks at the current Public Protector and some of the questions that have arisen in her first 100 days in office.

The South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law hosted a conference on corruption and human rights. This brief provides an overview of the ideas discussed relating to a human rights approach to addressing corruption effectively.

Does the Constitution permit the pardoning of the corrupt?

In this brief, Matthew Kruger argues that the President's duty to pay back approximately R7.8 million, for the construction at his private residence in Nkandla, is only one of the President's duties arising from the order of the Constitutional Court in March 2016. He might owe us quite a bit more.

Political questions rarely have easy answers. Even when we agree that a particular goal is desirable—end corruption, for example—we often disagree over the appropriate means to that end. Here I consider one possible means by which to combat corruption, namely, the regulation of the disclosure of political party funding, as well as some of the difficulties that accompany its actual use.

Discussing the issues of bribery and corruption in the police. As well as one's right when being pulled over by the police.

This Brief looks at the concept of Accountability

In this Brief ('The Arms Procurement Commission Thus Far'), Kameel Premhid, HSF Intern, examines the major issues affecting the Arms Procurement Commission (APC) since its inception. The APC is the first time that the South African Government has indicated that there was potential wrongdoing with the infamous Arms Deal. This is the first time that there exists a possibility to hold those involved in the deal accountable. However, this will not be possible if the APC continues to conduct itself in the way it has.