accountability
accountability
Helen Suzman Foundation Welcomes Dramat Judgement
The Helen Suzman Foundation welcomes the Pretoria high court ruling that the police cannot unilaterally suspend Hawks boss Anwa Dramat.
The foundation took Dramat’s suspension to court, bringing an urgent application requesting that police minister, Nathi Nhleko’s decision to suspend him be set aside.
Dramat was suspended on 23 December 2015, apparently pending a probe into his alleged involvement in the illegal rendition – the illegal kidnapping and transfer of prisoner from one country to another – of four Zimbabweans in November 2010.
To read the article titled, “Helen Suzman Foundation welcomes Dramat judgement,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianEskom Blamed for Electricity Problems
Earthlife Africa Johannesburg has criticised Eskom for failing to apologise to South Africans for the ongoing electricity problems when it held a press briefing on Thursday, 15 January 2015.
The group’s energy policy officer, Dominique Doyle, points out that, "The closest the public came to an apology is chief executive officer, Tshediso Matona, stating that Eskom is now opting to do the right thing, thereby acknowledging that Eskom has been doing the wrong thing."
Doyle argues that instead of apologising, the power utility transferred the blame to the public by threatening higher electricity tariffs and to cut off indebted communities.
To read the article titled, “Eskom shifts blame to public, says body,” click here.Source:Fin 24HSF Challenges Dramat’s Suspension
The Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) has launched an urgent application in the High Court in Pretoria to overturn the suspension of the Hawks head, Anwar Dramat.
HSF executive director, Francis Antonie, says the organisation is acting in terms of its mandate to protect the Constitution and the country's democracy.
Antonie explains: “We can't let this go without challenging it, because the basis of our challenge is that the Minister acted unlawfully because the Minister may only suspend the director of the Hawks if he had already taken into account Parliament's views on this matter and he hasn't done so because Parliament is in recess.”
To read the article titled, “Foundation pushes to overturn Hawks boss suspension,” click here.Source:SABC NewsZuma Criticised Over Nkandla Comments
The FW de Klerk Foundation says that President Jacob Zuma’s comments regarding the distinction between proper state expenditure and self-enrichment are disturbing.
In a press statement, the foundation says Zuma’s reported comparison between the construction of George airport and money spent on his Nkandla home raises ‘disturbing questions’.
“If he is correctly reported, the president’s comments raise disturbing questions regarding his views on the distinction between proper state expenditure on bona fide projects and expenditure that will result in his own enormous and unjustifiable enrichment,” argues Dave Steward, the organisation’s executive director.
To read the article titled, “Zuma's Nkandla comparison raises alarms,” click here.Source:Mail and Guardian'Person of Integrity' Award for Madonsela
The Corruption Watch says Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, will be honoured with Amnesty International's 'Person of Integrity' award for 2014.
Corruption Watch executive director, David Lewis, points out that, "Given the recent attacks on the public protector and her office, one of the crucial anti-corruption institutions in our constitutional democracy, this award represents a gratifying show of support from the global community."
Lewis states that this achievement is a clear demonstration of the wide-reaching impact of the exemplary way in which Madonsela has maintained the integrity of her office and fulfilled her role in this country.
To read the article titled, “Madonsela to get 'Person of Integrity' award: Corruption Watch,” click here.Source:Times LiveCall for NGOs to be Audited
Nsanje District Commissioner, Harry Phiri, says that the Kalondolondo Social audit programme should start assessing projects implemented by the country's non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Phiri says that most of the NGOs in Malawi receive more funds from donors, adding that the funds are not properly handled and therefore need to be assessed.
His opinion comes at a time when the district is to have its 25 Local Development Fund (LDF) teacher houses project audited by the Kalondolondo programme.
To read the article titled, “CSOS' projects should be audited - Nsanje DC,” click here.Source:All AfricaCASAC Criticises Zuma Over Nkandla
The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) says that President Jacob Zuma's failure to account properly on the Public Protector's report on his Nkandla homestead shows contempt for Parliament and for the Constitution.
In a press statement, CASAC points out that, "The president should be allowed to complete his answers to the questions that had been tabled for answer on 21 August 2014, and to respond to any supplementary questions in the National Assembly.”
Meanwhile, Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, wrote that, "I am concerned that the decision you have made regarding the police minister gives him power he does not have under law, which is to review my decision taken in pursuit of the powers of administrative scrutiny I am given... by the Constitution."
To read the article titled, “CASAC: Zuma showing contempt for Parliament,” click here.Source:News 24SASSA to Act Against CPS
According to an article by Asha Speckman, it could not get much worse for Net1 UEPS Technologies, which faces the wrath of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) over unlawful charges for airtime and loans that the service provider has been deducting from the monthly payout to beneficiaries under its R10 billion social grant tender.
Net1 shares went into free-fall following the ruling, dropping 28 percent to R70 during intraday trade on the JSE, before recouping some of the losses to end the session down 12.76 percent at R85.50.
Meanwhile, SASSA chief executive, Virginia Petersen, says the agency is considering its options and is intending to revise its contracts with the service provider.
To read the article titled, “Now we can clip the wings of CPS – SASSA,” click here.Source:IOL NewsWeaker APRM Bad for Governance
The African Peer Review Mechanism (ARPM) - set up by former President Thabo Mbeki to tackle the continent's problems - is a shambles.
According to a report by former mechanism chairman Akere Muna, the institution lacks backing by African leaders and is being ‘driven into the ground’ by its chief executive officer and its secretariat that can barely function.
The mechanism has in the past served as a reliable indicator of emerging troubles on the continent.
In South Africa, an ARPM report alerted the government to tensions between locals and foreigners that culminated in 2008's wave of xenophobic violence.
To read the article titled, ‘Mbeki brainchild 'now a shambles'’, click here.Source:Times LiveSACC Calls for Resignations Over Nkandla
The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has responded to the Public Protector's report by saying those implicated should consider stepping down.
In a press statement, the SACC points out that, "For the future of the nation and the sustainability of our fledgling democracy, we urge those implicated in the report to consider stepping down."
The organisation also says that the report on Nkandla "should be interrogated, not on the timing of its release, but the merits of the contents therein and the implications for the country."
To read the article titled, “Those implicated by Nkandla report should resign: SACC,” click here.Source:Times Live
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