Can we no longer trust judges in South Africa?

South Africa is a country where trust in public organisations is at an all-time low. But in the middle of an endless wave of wrong-doing allegations against State-Owned Enterprises, hospitals, and numerous local and provincial municipalities, one institution has always seemed safe from the evil tendrils of corruption: our judiciary.So the arrest on corruption charges of a sitting high court judge in November last year sent shock waves throughout the entire country.Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Phahlane is charged with allegedly receiving millions to rule in favour of one of the factions involved in the succession battle of the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC).Mr Xola Nqola, the portfolio committee chairperson of the Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, said, “The arrest has the potential to erode South African citizens’ trust in their judiciary,” he said. “The most troubling aspect is the alleged use of money. In a corruption-infested society such as ours, it would be too slippery a road if judges started accepting brown envelopes on matters that are before courts awaiting adjudication.”Click below to read the full story.https://lnkd.in/d5Hr-bZQ

The Untouchables - When Exposing Corruption Is Not Enough

Over R1.2 billion. That is what South African taxpayers have spent on just four major commissions of inquiry over the past decade. The money funded years of testimony, thousands of pages of evidence, and hundreds of recommendations. Yet when you ask how many people have been prosecuted, the number drops to a trickle.The pattern repeats itself. A scandal breaks. Public outrage builds. The government announces a commission of inquiry. Months turn into years. The commission delivers its findings. Then silence.This is the commission cycle that South Africa cannot seem to break.Click below to read the full story. https://lnkd.in/dJMQA8eq

Optimism Without Action Is Just Wishful Thinking

If you’ve lived in South Africa for more than fifteen minutes, you’re likely familiar with the "Braaivleis Pivot." You know the game I mean - the conversational gymnastics where we spend 40 minutes round the fire lamenting the latest collapse of a specific municipality, and the last five minutes before the meat comes off gushing about how spectacular this morning’s sunrise was.I love South Africa with my whole being, but we are at risk of becoming a nation of professional hope mongers, treating optimism like a national currency.So, as we blink into the light of January 2026, we have to acknowledge a few stark truths:The exchange rate is still terrible, corruption is still rife, and a beautiful sunrise doesn't fix a substation that blew up because it hasn't been serviced since the 2010 World Cup.Optimism without action isn't a strategy, it’s a hallucination, and if there’s one thing we need to understand this year it’s this:The time for "thinking about it" has officially expired.Click below to read the full article.https://lnkd.in/dk9xwfNN

Organisational Growth in 2025. This year, it's learn or burn

There’s no shortage of articles and reports on the pros and cons of AI adoption in organisations, and the subject is not typically one we would choose to focus on here at JGL. At first glance, AI has little to do with helping our country’s political and business leaders create a culture of integrity, and bake ethical, sustainable practices into everything they do.

The Steinhoff Scandal. A Mockery of Ethics and Justice

The Steinhoff scandal, a staggering R200 billion corporate collapse, unfolds as a tale of deceit and corporate misconduct that has left investors, pensioners, and the broader public in financial distress. Former CEO Marcus Jooste's abrupt resignation in the wake of accounting irregularities marked the beginning of a catastrophic fallout, with a 98% loss in share value and severe implications for pension funds, notably the Government Employees Pension Fund.

Skint January = Workplace Fraud

After the excesses of the festive season, January is often a financially tight month for many people and this pressure may result in people committing acts of fraud they would not otherwise do. 

The Difference Between Ethics and Integrity

It shouldn’t be a grey area, but is.
It shouldn’t be something we need to write about, but it is.
What it should be is something we all have ingrained into our psyche. Something that’s instinctive, and which governs our behaviour without question.
But it isn’t.
 

Tying the Tourniquet: Can We Stop The South African Health Sector Bleeding to Death

Corruption in the healthcare sector in South Africa is not new.
Between 2009 and 2012/13, just over R8 billion in health expenditure by the combined provincial departments was classified as unauthorised, while R24 billion was deemed “irregular.”
In 2017/18, health departments accounted for 57% of unpaid bills by government.
 
 

Don’t Try To Be Perfect - The Cracks Are What Allow The Light To Get In

It is all fine and well to complain about the 'cracks' in this country, but complaining does not solve the problems. Thankfully, many incredible people in South Africa have done and are continuing to do, amazing things – despite the cracks and crevasses.