The dangers of ignoring ‘mere allegations’ against candidates for election
Opinionista • Paul Hoffman • 18 March 2019 • Daily Maverick Our parliamentarians ought to be people of probity and integrity; not awaiting-trial accused persons in jeopardy of losing their right to sit in Parliament. Section 35 of the Bill of Rights is the longest and most detailed section of the second chapter of our […]
Lead us not into temptation, Mr President
Whether you are Cyril Ramaphosa or Helen Zille, the constitution declares that the mere risk of a conflict of interest is enough to sound alarm bells 18 March 2019 – 05:05 By Paul Hoffman (BusinessDay) President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: GCIS The law concerning the risk of conflict of interests could not be clearer. Section 96(2) […]
Political will is critical if the fight against corruption is to gain ground
The creation of an integrity commission deserves urgent support 24 June 2018 – 00:00 By UNATHI MPHENDU and NATASJA HOLTZHAUSEN (Sunday Times) In 2005, an era before the shutters came down on effective corruption-busting in South Africa, Scorpions mount a raid on Jacob Zuma’s home and those of his lawyers. Image: Greg Marinovich The growing […]
Can Shamila Batohi revive a dying NPA?
Subverted by corrupt politicians who sought to capture the state, the National Prosecuting Authority now has a new director, specially chosen by President Cyril Ramaphosa. But what will it take for Shamila Batohi to arrest, prosecute and jail those behind the looting that has brought SA to the brink of economic disaster? BL PREMIUM 14 […]
The constitutional need for independent anti-corruption machinery of state
Lawyers and politicians have a penchant for making simple things complicated. It suits them to do so. In the case of lawyers, complex matters attract higher fees, or more kudos for intricate judgments for those lawyers who grace the Bench. In the case of politicians, it assists in bamboozling the long-suffering electorate to wrap questionable […]
Robert McBride won’t give up on fight
Thursday 7 March 2019 – 5:00am (ENCA) Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate Head Robert McBride is taking the decision not to renew his contract on review. Parliament’s police portfolio committee recommended he not be given another term. JOHANNESBURG – Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate boss Robert McBride said he’s being labelled as difficult because of his unbending […]
DA softens on corruption body-independence – Paul Hoffman
4th March 2019 by Chris Bateman (BizNews) CAPE TOWN — The bottom line in the opinion of legal eagle Paul Hoffman on the Constitutionally-required independence of corruption-busting bodies? The leaders of the main political parties and their manifestos cannot be trusted to ensure this – and the main opposition party, the DA, has got it […]
Smoke and mirrors – and no one is tackling grand corruption
Opinionista • Paul Hoffman • 25 February 2019 (Daily Maverick) The weekend announcement by the Presidency that it is planning to set up an eight-judge special tribunal to expedite civil debt collections instigated by his custom-made SIU investigations is further evidence of ANC unwillingness to get to grips properly, efficiently and effectively, with grand corruption. […]
LETTER: Bosasa must recover R40m it ‘donated’ to the ANC
25 February 2019 – 05:03 By Paul Hoffman (Business Day) Bosasa whistleblower Angelo Agrizzi prepares to give testimony at the Zondo commission in January. Picture: Alaister Russell/The Sunday Times According to reports, alleged to be based on insider knowledge, the ANC amassed at least R40m in donations from Bosasa. Whether this amount is regarded as “protection […]
Why Cyril’s state capture squad will almost certainly fail
Experts point out the crucial flaw in the new ‘Scorpions’ unit that dooms it from the beginning on the backfoot President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: Reuters/Hannah McKay In a country that has been ravaged by corruption and profligate looting, the announcement of a crack squad within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to bring state capturers to […]
