A Formidable Force. Remembering Former Judge Willem Heath

Willem Heath's son, Marius, reflected on the many tributes that have poured in for his late father.
“Being a pioneer in [our] government’s anti-corruption architecture and in the early life of our democracy…being the peoples’ judge. That is one of the most beautiful things ever bestowed upon him,” he said. “My father would have been greatly humbled by the recognition.”

Underage And Underground – The Plight Of Africa’s Child Miners

Robbed of their childhoods and forced into child labour, children are unwilling warriors in the fight against generational poverty. Almost a third of African children are physically and mentally underdeveloped. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in 11 children will die before their 5th birthday.

The Stolen Billions. Imagine The Suffering This Money Could Have Relieved!

One and a half TRILLION Rand. That’s how much South Africa lost to corruption in just five years, from 2014 to 2019.
And yet, as eye-watering as that figure is, it’s only the proverbial tip of the ship-sinking iceberg formed by corruption, “irregular expenditure,” theft and general mismanagement.

Rising Above The Storm: South Africa's Fight Against Financial Crime

Picture a nation where criminals operate with near impunity, where sophisticated syndicates extort millions through kidnappings, and where the guardians of justice are overwhelmed and underfunded. This isn't the plot of a crime novel; it's the reality facing South Africa today.
Experts paint a stark picture: South Africa has exceptionally low conviction rates for even the most heinous violent crimes.

Does Eskom Need A R280 000 Mop to Clean Up Its Act?

Is it just me or is anyone else more than a little dizzy from the eternal going-round-in-circles mode of doing business that Eskom seems bent on clinging to?
Eskom must be one of the only businesses in the world that wants you to use less of its product and then whinges when you do. 

The Lasting Legacy of Pravin Gordhan

South Africa’s recent history – particularly since 1994 – has been shaped by the vision, hard work and passion of many committed individuals. Our Public Enterprises and former Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, was one such person. His recent passing, just months after his retirement at the end of May, has left our entire country – and, I would venture to guess, many others throughout the rest of the world - supremely saddened.

Will We Ever See Justice For Babita Deokaran?

August 23, 2024, marked a sinister milestone: Three years since Gauteng Department of Health whistle-blower Babita Deokaran was assassinated, shot multiple times as she arrived home after dropping her daughter at school.
At the time, she had red-flagged “possibly fraudulent transactions” at Tembisa Hospital amounting to around R850 million. 

Why Professional Ethics Makes Smart Business Sense

Never have ethical principles been as under threat as they are today. In a world dominated by appalling headlines of war, human suffering, and general societal decay, you could be forgiven for wondering if a discussion about professional ethics is still relevant.
 

The High Wire Act of Workplace Ethics

In this article, we'll explore the whimsical world of personal integrity and ethics in the workplace, with thought-provoking examples that will make you question whether you're the ethical trapeze artist you thought you were.

COP27: Who Will Keep An Eye On The Money?

At last year’s COP26 meeting, several European countries pledged the equivalent of R150 billion ($8.5 billion) to help Eskom out of its quagmire. This money is earmarked to help Eskom, one of South Africa’s biggest polluters, along with Sasol, shut down ageing power plants and migrate to renewable energy.
I am probably not the only one worrying about how this money will be spent and who is going to ensure it does not get stolen.