News

This page displays the Jan - Nov 2009 news and analysis on issues relating to conflicts of interest in the South African governance and business spheres.

NOVEMBER 2009

Speech presented by Deputy Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene, slams poor business ethics.

• Business Report, 11 November 2009

OCTOBER 2009

African National Congress (ANC) treasurer Mathews Phosa has mooted setting up an office for an anticorruption commissioner.

• BusinessDay, 30 October 2009

SEPTEMBER 2009

COSATU takes a position on conflicts of interest in the public sector.

• Mail & Guardian, 23 September 2009

AUGUST

 2009

Media calls on government officials to sever business ties.

•    Mail & Guardian, 7 August 2009

Many senior government officials hold private business interests.

• Mail & Guardian, 7 August 2009

Links between government and business raises serious potential conflicts of interest situations.

• Mail & Guardian, 7 August 2009

‘Revolving door’ law on the cards.

• Sunday Times, 9 August 2009

Non-disclosure found among civil servants.

• Business Report, 11 August 2009

Monitoring of financial disclosure is problematic.

• Business Day, 12 August 2009

JULY 2009

Declaring interests is key to good governance.

• Business report, 16 July 2009

Public servants fail to disclosure financial interests.

• Business Day, 17 July 2009

Luxury perks for elected officials are unethical.

• The Times, 27 July 2009

JUNE 2009

Gauteng MEC in yet another Mercedes Benz debacle

• Independent Online, 02 June 2009, 'MEC in luxury car muddle'

• Cape Times, 05 June 2009, 'MEC quits after Merc controversy'

'R20 000 And a luxury hotel stay for former health MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni'

• Mail and Guardian, 01 June 2009, 'KZN Speaker accused of taking kickbacks'
• The Times, 02 June 2009, 'KZN Speaker must step down:  DA'

Allegations of corruption against ANC's Ngoako Ramatlhodi

• Mail and Guardian, 05 June 2009, 'The premier, the farm and the platinum mine'

MAY 2009

Stellenbosch ratepayers want salary details of political office bearers and top management

• Cape Times, (04 May 2009), Ratepayers call for salary disclosure

Minister of Human Settlements works to prevent conflict of interest

• Mail and Guardian, (12 May 2009), Sexwale to resign from chair of Mvelaphanda.

42% of Zuma’s Cabinet on CIPRO

• Mail and Guardian, (15 May 2009), Zuma’s Cabinet Inc .

List of Ministers/Deputy Ministers private business interest

• Mail and Guardian, (15 May 2009), Ministers’ document (PDF 48KB)

S'bu Ndebele, Minister of Transport and the Mercedes Benz

• Mail and Guardian, (18 May 2009), Transport Minister accepts 'thank you' Merc.
• Mail and Guardian, (18 May 2009), Minister seeks Zuma's guidance on 'thank you' Merc
• Mail and Guardian, (20 May 2009), Talking of cars………..

Ministerial Handbook scheduled for review

• Mail and Guardian, (20 May 2009), Ministers want to revisit ethics code.

Asmal calls for review of executive and parliamentary ethics rules

• Mail and Guardian, (21 May 2009), Asmal backs review of ethics rules

MPs given three week grace period to declare their interests

• Business Day, (27 May 2009), ‘More time for MPs to list their assets ’.

APRIL 2009

Alleged irregularities in Western Cape’s property rentals

• Cape Times (01 April 2009) 'Whistleblower claims huge property scam'

Contractor for Gauteng Health Department allegedly plays guarantor for MEC Brian Hlongwa in his purchasing of residential property

• Cape Times, (09 April 2009), ‘Minister caught up in property row’.

DA claims conflict of interest in process of appointing Public Service Commissioner for Western Cape

• Cape Times, (15 April 2009), DA seeks to thwart appointment

Allegations of corruption rife in City of Tshwane

• Mail and Guardian, (23 April 2009), 'Tshwane comes off second best in graft claims'

MARCH 2009

Special leave for secretary of National Assembly

• Mail and Guardian (10 March 2009) 'National Assembly Secretary suspended'
• Politicsweb (10 March 2009) 'Top parliamentary official suspended'

Gauteng Fund open to large-scale corruption

• Mail and Guardian (13 March 2009)  'More govt money for Gauteng Fund'

Whether public official or not, taxpayers still pay Zuma's security bills

• Cape Times (13 March 2009) Security guards for Zuma cost SA millions

Possible corruption within the Department of Intelligence?

• Mail and Guardian (16 March 2009) 'DA calls for probe into Cwele, drug allegations'

Cape Town's Disaster Management and Emergency Services accused of nepotism

• Independent Online (16 March 2009) 'Claims of nepotism spark enquiry'

Firing of Ekurhuleni city manager, Patrick Flusk, opens can of worms

• Mail and Guardian (19 March 2009) 'Axed Ekurhuleni boss has 'clear conscience'
• Cape Times (19 March 2009) 'Flusk says he has a clear conscience'

Enquiry into purchasing of Mercedes after BMW was bought two years ago for Stellenbosch Mayor

• Cape Times (20 March 2009) 'Mayor's R425 000 car fuels rumours'

Judicial code ‘hopefully’ published before 2009 elections

• Business Day, (31 March 2009) 'Surty promotes code of conduct for judiciary'

FEBRUARY 2009

Government corruption in South Africa's prisons:  the Bosasa debacle

• Mail and Guardian (06 February 2009) 'Lindi Mti's Bosasa bonanza'
• Mail and Guardian (04 February 2009) 'IFP calls for probe into correctional services'

The arms deal saga continues

• Mail and Gaurdian (09 February 2009) 'Zuma's lawyers to make representations to NPA'
• Mail and Guardian (18 February 2009) 'NPA: Zuma has 'poor' chance of success'
• Mail and Guardian (17 February 2009) 'End of Scorpions could hamper arms-deal probe'
• Cape Times (17 February 2009) 'Disbanding of Scorpions could hit probe'

Former ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus in hot water

• Mail and Guardian (13 February 2009) 'Tearful Niehaus admits fraud'
• Mail and Guardian (13 February 2009) 'Niehaus offers resignation'
• Mail and Guardian (16 February 2009) 'Shilowa may be drawn into Niehaus fracas'
• Cape Times (13 February 2009) 'DA wants audit after Niehaus revelations'
• Cape Times (15 February 2009) 'Now premier faces charges over crafty Carl'
• Mail and Guardian (17 February 2009) 'ANC to help Niehaus to rebuild his life'
• Mail and Guardian (17 February 2009) 'Carl Niehaus's litany of lies'
• Cape Times (17 February 2009) 'ANC tells Niehaus to get his house in order'
• Mail and Guardian (18 February 2009)  ' Comrade Carl quits ANC'
• Mail and Guardian (18 February 2009) 'DA opens case against premier, draws in Shilowa'
• Cape Times (18 February 2009) 'Duarte: Carl remains a loyal member of ANC'
• Independent Online (18 February 2009) 'Niehaus blames prison, apartheid'
• Cape Times (19 February 2009) 'Is Mashatile responsible for Niehaus saga'
• Mail and Guardian (20 February 2009) 'Why did Zuma want Niehaus'
• Mail and Guardian (23 February 2009) 'Niehaus a top performer at Unisa, claims professor'

Oudtshoorn Municipal Manager used municipal money to pay his bills

• Cape Times (17 February 2009) 'Municipal funds used for private gain'

Public Protector accuses former chairperson of Eskom board of improper behaviour

• Mail and Guardian (18 February 2009) Moosa 'acted improperly' in awarding of Medupi contract

Public servants need to be made aware of dangers involved in accepting gifts

• Mail and Guardian (25 February 2009) 'Resisting 'gifts' was the key to defeating corruption, President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday'

Regional magistrate recuses himself from criminal case

• Cape Times (25 February 2009) 'Recused magistrate keeps mum'

JANUARY 2009

Zuma to once again face charges relating to the arms deal saga

• Mail and Guardian (12 January 2009) ‘Time for Zuma to have his day in court’
• Cape Times (12 January 2009) ‘Zuma ‘under attack from judges’’
• Mail and Guardian (12 January 2009) ‘Court opens way for new Zuma charges;
• Mail and Guardian (14 January 2009) 'ANC asks lawyers to review NPA act'
• Mail and Guardian (14 January 2009) 'NPA confirms correspondence from Zuma's lawyers'
• Mail and Guardian (27 January 2009) 'NPA:  Zuma lawyers can still make representations'

Premierships for sale?

• Mail & Guardian (14 January 2009) 'Sparks fly over JZ wedding gift'

Fresh evidence in the arms deal case

• Mail & Guardian (14 January 2009) 'How arms-deal bribes were paid'

'Yengeni nominated on Provincial Lists, but not eligible to serve'

• Mail and Guardian (22 January 2009) 'ANC stipulations rule Yengeni out of Parliament'

'Western Cape Departments of Social Development and Housing embroiled in campaigning scandal'

• Cape Times (22 January 2009) MEC denies using vouchers 'in bid for votes'

Government corruption in South Africa's prisons:  the Bosasa debacle

• Mail and Guardian (23 January 2009) 'Kitchen confidential'
• Mail and Guardian (30 January 2009) 'Prisons graft: Here's the proof, minister'
• Mail and Guardian (30 Janaury 2009) 'Popcru:  Balfour must resign'