"The moment when something which has been kept hidden, becomes exposed"

Issue No 013
20 February 2004

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Editorial

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Research & Reform

Top SADC Story

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The weapons of mass distraction

The Iraqi dessert is by all accounts not a good place to search for the 'mirage' of weapons of mass destruction. Its' much valued oil fields are however pursued with greater success. One example may be the procurement contract for 'Iraqi Basra Light' oil awarded by government to a South African company which according to press reports may be politically well connected (See National Administration).

This is not the first time that the media has tackled the sticky issue of oil procurement, in Umqol'uphandle 004, we warned of the "Oil slick approaching our shores", and highlighted the work by some of the country's leading investigative journalists on the matter. The allegation of possible corrupt relationships may well be unfounded - but until this is shown to be the case, it must be pursued. Since the Mail & Guardian broke both stories little is known of how these have been followed up, if at all. At times the relevant state authorities are at fault but often the investigative capacity within the media is so limited that they are not able to follow up on all these issues. The public too presumes some of these exposé's too complex to read beyond the soundbite offered by a headline. As consumers we need to demand more of this sort of journalism, not only because it shows up powerful individuals - but by not doing so we accept the notion that as citizens we have no role to play in ensuring democratic accountability. Civil Society organisations such as the Freedom of Expression Institute (See Profile) play a key role in monitoring the enforcement of the constitutional principle of freedom of expression - ensuring that the space in which a diversity of voices are active is kept open.

Within our region, the current Harare regime has made a fiction of freedom of expression. It timed a decision to shut down the independent Daily News (again) last week with a cynical promise to tackle corruption (See Top SADC story). Some Zimbabwean analysts predict that the latter is merely a ploy to deflect internal criticism. This argument is supported by the decision to silence the very newspapers that should be in the frontline of exposing corruption in Zimbabwe. Within the region Swazi journalists, willing to criticise the excesses of the Royal court, have faced similar censure.

However distraction is not the only means to deal with corrupt activity. In Southern Africa three corruption cases have exemplified the positive role that can be played by oversight institutions, prosecuting authorities, the media and other actors within society. To highlight this the ISS will be hosting a three days seminar (15-17 March) in Gauteng that will focus on:

the Lesotho dam corruption trial;



the prosecution of those involved in the murder of Mozambican journalist Carlos Cardoso;



and the SA arms deal (See Announcements for details)

PUBLIC SERVICE

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION

Scorpions asked to crack R1bn Setas fraud

Sharda Naidoo reports that Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has brought in the Scorpions to weed out corruption and fraud totalling about R1bn in the Labour Department and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA). The Scorpions are expected to arrest corrupt labour officials in two provinces soon. The crackdown is part of an attempt to improve service delivery and to remove criminal activities that cripple Setas. On top of heavy criticism that most Setas have failed to disburse the 1% skills levy into the sectors for training whilst R2,8bn of the Setas' skills training remained unspent, it has emerged that officials are "dipping into the skills fund". According to Mdladlana, two labour officials were arrested in 2003 for stealing money from the Setas, and some senior Seta management officials were fired. It is reported that the Scorpions are expected to close in soon on several labour officials who were receiving kickbacks that ranged between R400 000 and R1m from Seta training providers during the tender process.
Full Article in Business Day

How the ANC fell for Sadam's crude diplomacy

"The Mail & Guardian reveals how the African National Congress through its close association with an empowerment oil trader, joined a dangerous courtship dance with the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein". Questions regarding party funding and the extent to which the ANC is willing to use its access to state power to get more of it, are raised. According to the M&G, it is well known that the Iraqi regime was willing to use its oil as a diplomatic tool to counter US hegemony. In this article, the M&G reveals that Iraq's State of Oil Marketing Organisation (Somo) awarded the greatest known South African allocations to trader Sandi Majali, a relative unknown, and at least two companies associated with him: Montega Trading and Ivume. Majali has been the beneficiary of two state oil contracts worth R1,75bn and the larger was a controversial tender to source crude oil from Iraq. M&G asserts that Majali was close enough to the ANC to give the Iraqis comfort that they were dealing with an entity which could influence South African authorities. Majali's close association was demonstrated when ANC secretary general Kgaleme Motlanthe and treasurer Mendi Msimang travelled with Majali to Baghdad. Questions regarding the closeness of Ivume and the South African ruling party also rose when Ivume was awarded a one-year R750m contract by PetroSA to supply condensate feedstock to its Mossel Bay gas-to-liquids-plant. Although it is unclear what was in it for the ruling party, the M&G suggests that some evidence points to it having been a beneficiary of Majali or his companies. ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama responded by stating that "The ANC has never received material assistance from any government or organisation in exchange for 'diplomatic support' or 'diplomatic favours'".
Full Report in Mail & Guardian

Trial date for Zuma's finance advisor

Business Day reports that the state formally indicted Deputy President Jacob Zuma's financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, for fraud, corruption and tax evasion. The trial date has been set for October 11 due to the "voluminous tasks" associated with analysing more than 56 000 documents involved in a case that has the potential to damage Zuma's political career. The trial is expected to last two months and according to state prosecutor Billy Downer, the witness list would be finalised and released within days.
Full Article in Business Day

CAA suspends sky-high spender

Wisani wa ka Ngobeni reports that KC Marobela, a senior official at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has been suspended on charges of fraud and wasteful expenditure of taxpayers' money. The CAA, that is responsible for air safety and reports to Minister of Transport Abdullah Omar, has been in the spotlight since the Mail & Guardian revealed allegations of irregularities and corruption against former CEO Trevor Abrahams in 2003. Aviation industry players have claimed that Marobela's suspension was orchestrated by senior CAA officials loyal to Abrahams, as Marobela was one of the key witnesses who provided "damning information to the disciplinary inquiry against Abrahams". According to the Mail & Guardian, Marobela is being probed for allegedly inflating a subsistence allowance on a recent business trip to Canada.
Full Report in Mail & Guardian

Deeds official may be off hook

Gerswin Chuenyane reports that despite allegations against two officials in the Pretoria Deeds Office of irregularly registering deeds after hours for law firms, these officials have now been promoted to senior positions. Evidence to this effect was sent to the human resources department at the Department of Agriculture and Land Affair however, no action was taken. Piet Skosana, chairman of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), confirmed that the members of the union raised the allegations and he criticised the directorate of human resources for failing to handle the case promptly. These officials may have been let off the hook because in terms of resolution tow of the Public Service Bargaining Council of 1999, a case has to be investigated within 12 months or it expires.
Full Article in Sowetan (5 February 2004)

Mystery marriage surprises single woman

Carien du Plessis reports that Capetonian office worker Sisanda Futa has struggled for more than a year to obtain a new identity document after it became apparent that she was a victim of a fraudulent marriage. She now fears that she would not be able to vote in the 2004 elections. Futa lost her ID in August 2002 and has applied three times since for a new one. She was told twice by the Home Affairs Department that her ID was lost in the post, and when she finally received it, her surname was changed to Hong. Home Affairs spokesperson, Nkosana Sibuyi, stated that the department was aware of the problem of "fraudulent marriages" and that "corrupt officials" were to blame. Sibuyi stated that victims of fraudulent marriages should report these cases to Home Affairs after getting an affidavit from a police station. Temporary IDs will be issued to such persons to enable them to vote in the April elections.
Full Article in This Day (2 February 2004)


PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION

R10-bn goes walkabout

Barry Sergeant reports that R10-bn in public money remains unaccounted for in the Eastern Cape in the 2002/2003 fiscal year. An analysis by the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) shows that a total of R110-bn went missing over the past six years in the Eastern Cape and that only 12 percent of the Eastern Cape's provincial budget has thus been adequately accounted for between 1997 and 2003. PSAM's analysis of spending in the Eastern Cape's government is the only one of its kind in South Africa, and is based on primary documents that are published by the central Treasury and by various offices of the Auditor-General. According to PSAM, audit disclaimers are issued when "so many transactions are not included in the department's financial statements, and so little supporting documentation can be produced to justify the department's expenditure, that no audit could be conducted in the first place". Vuyo Tetyana of PSAM asserts that although disclaimers are usually an indication of a serious lack of financial control measures and a lack of effective financial management within a department, they do not indicate that the amounts have been misappropriated or stolen. At the same time, however, it is not possible to demonstrate that significant amounts of these funds have not been misappropriated or stolen. Sergeant reports that governance levels have improved radically over the past three years in the Eastern Cape. Whilst 96 percent of the budget was unaccounted for in fiscal 2000/2001, 41 percent was unaccounted for in 2002/2003 and indication of some improvement.
Full Report in Moneyweb
Also see the Public Service Accountability Monitor

Investigation into 1200 corruption cases completed

Patrick Cull reports that the Minister for Public Service & Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi stated that the more than 1200 cases involving corruption and other offences that were managed by the interim team in the Eastern Cape have been completed. Audits related to items such as procurement, hospital stock and petrol card abuse have been completed, and a number of cases are being prepared against employees. The interim management team have finalised 1323 cases, of which 286 were instances of fraud and theft. According to Fraser-Moleketi, 42 percent of those found guilty had been dismissed and two heads of departments are being disciplined for transgressions of the Public Finance Management Act. Fraser-Moleketi stated that new procurement regulations and frameworks had been put in place along with financial management support, supply chain management support and human resources support for two years in order to "set in place sustainable capacity".
Full Report in The Herald

Taxpayers' fury at department's festive fun

Ashley Smith reports that Western Cape provincial minister Patrick McKenzie has ordered a financial audit into the Christmas parties and "team-building" exercises of the Western Cape's Department of Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation. This follows a Weekend Argus expose at the end of 2003 that revealed the excessive partying of the department. McKenzie has instructed that no departmental events such as team-building exercises can be held without his consent and is awaiting the outcome of the financial outcomes before taking further action. The minister has instructed that a detailed audit be conducted of all events hosted by the department for the 2003/2004 book year.
Full Report in Weekend Argus


LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

City probe into R2.5m fence at golf club

The City of Cape Town has launched an internal investigation when it became apparent that R2,5m of taxpayers money was used to erect a fence around the Belville Golf Club. Councillor Gerald Smith, who is also general manager of the golf club, stated that he had 'no problem" with the investigation and that the city had approved the money for the fence. The Cape Times report that an internal forensic investigation started in June 2002 and was completed only in October, as "accusations were made against several people". City Speaker Gavin Paulse requested another investigation in October in terms of the code of behaviour for councillors. A report of a disciplinary committee is expected by the end of February.
Full Report in Cape Times (29 January 2004)


INDUSTY

Millions recovered after probe into medical fraud

Mokgadi Pela reports that Medsheme's fraud investigation unit had recovered more than R100 million in the past three years from doctors in an attempt to rid medical aid schemes of unhealthy practices. According to Medscheme managing director Gary Taylor, they managed to recover R40.8 million from doctors who defrauded medical schemes in 2003. These amounts had been paid back to the schemes. Pela reports that the fraud unit operates at three levels: civil action to recover money, criminal action to lodge a case with the SA Police Service, and professional action to get fraudulent doctors, dentists and other deregistered by the Health Professions Council and to prevent them from practising in future. The Board of Healthcare Funders stated that several medical aid administrators had suspended payments to 147 service providers for fraudulent activities. The chairman of the board's forensic management unit, Marius Smit, reported that fraud within the medical fraternity cost the medical aid industry between R4-bn and R8-bn annually.
Full Report in Business Report

Buying our ignorance?

Former company secretary of listed healthcare group Macmed, Alan Hiscock, and former Macmed financial manager, Johann Muller, were found personally liable for Macmed's R647 million debts. The other accused had already settled out of court. According to Business Report, the liquidators were less interested in collecting some of the money for creditors than in proving a point and making an example of the men. Business Report maintains that we will never find out whether Hiscock's and Miller's colleagues were innocent of fraud and reckless trading as "they have bought our ignorance with their out-of-court settlement".
Full Report in Business Report

Auditors confirm Rugby irregularities

The deputy managing director of the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu), Songezo Nayo, has confirmed that auditors found irregular financial transactions in their books. SA rugby's general manager of finance, Ivor Bloom, and his assistant Pieter Cloete, were suspended after allegations of irregularities surfaced. It is reported that Nayo instituted the forensic investigation against the two officials for alleged irregular transactions. According to Nayo the auditors have been able to find certain transactions that they deem irregular, but he denies claims that a third official is implicated in the probe.
Full Report in News24


CRIME AND JUSTICE

PRISON: Prison "early release" bribe syndicate is rounded up

Gill Gifford reports that the police has broken up a syndicate at the Barberton Prison Farm in Johannesburg that released inmates in exchange for bribes as high as R7000. A number of prisoners whose families "bought" their early parole from a syndicate are to be arrested again, forced to serve out their criminal charges and will face more criminal charges. Seven alleged syndicate members have been arrested and face charges of fraud, corruption and intimidation. According to Superintendent Isak van Zyl, acting police head of communications in Mpumalanga, the syndicate leader was a Correctional Services official in Barberton, and the gang's activities were conducted at Barberton Prison Farm's Medium B section. The leader developed contacts within the prison, who then found a prisoner they could use as a recruiter. The smashing of the syndicate formed part of a national effort to uncover criminal activities in the Department of Correctional Services. The syndicate had been in operation for well over a year and the police were tipped off about the operations more than five months ago. More arrests are expected.
Full Report in Cape Times (9 February 2004)

POLICE: Cops charged with corruption

Sonia Molema reports that three police officers at the Mamelodi police station have been arrested for allegedly trying to sell a case docket. "Inspector Steve Ramolobeng has been charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice after allegedly taking a bribe of R900 from a suspect on Monday". Ramolobeng allegedly demanded money from the suspect and promised to destroy the docket. After the suspect alerted the police, member of the police anti-corruption unit set a trap for Ramolobeng and he was arrested. Ramolobeng appeared in the Mamelodi magistrate's court and was released on warning. Two other police officers were also arrested at the station for bribery and corruption.
Full Report in City Press (1 February 2004)


SOCIAL JUSTICE

SOCIAL WELFARE: Disability fraud increasing

News24 reports that according to Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya, the rapid escalation in cases of fraud in regard to accessing disability grants has become a cause of concern. Preliminary reports from most of the provinces indicate that there were various irregularities concerning the issuing of disability grants. According to Skweyiya the fraud is partly due to the inability to distinguish clearly between those who are disabled and those with chronic diseases. Skweyiya highlighted that although the government was committed to and had been implementing a strategy to address the issue of HIV/Aids, it does not provide a social grant specifically or exclusively for people who are HIV-positive. Provincial governments were urged to correctly communicate to beneficiaries and stakeholders about disability grants to prevent any misunderstandings. Skweyiya warned that the failure to follow the correct procedures and adhere to the specified criteria in the consideration of applications and termination of temporary disability grants can lead to distortions in the social security system.
Full Report in News24.com

HEALTH: Doctor in R3,8m state grant fraud scam

Dr Leod Zondo, medical superintendent of the Empilisweni Hospital near Aliwal-North, has appeared in court in connection with an estimated R3,8 million fraud and corruption allegation involving the issuing of falsified medical certificates for disability grant applicants nationwide. Although Dr. Zodo works for the Eastern Cape health department, he had the department's permission to run a private practice. According to the Joint Anti-Corruption Task Team's preliminary investigations it is estimated that Dr Zodo may have made up to R24 000 a day by issuing falsified medical certificates to disability grant applicants. Task team spokesperson Mzukifi Fatyela stated that it will take several weeks to complete the investigations as patients came from all over South Africa. It is believed that there are several people in South Africa who have fraudulently obtained their medical certificates. Dr Zodo appeared in the Sterkspruit's magistrate court and was released on R10 000 bail. Eastern Cape Health MEC Dr Bevan Goqwana stated that his department would hold its own internal investigation which would lead to a decision whether Dr Zodo should be suspended or not.
Full Report in The Herald

Family faces 11 000 charges of theft

Nicki Padayachee reports that the Eastern Cape Govender family is facing more than 11 000 charges of stealing millions in state grants intended for the poor. The Govenders as well as their employee Mlungisi Thontsi are accused of profiting from the 5 661 cheques stolen by corrupt government officials from the Eastern Cape Departments of Welfare and Health. The Asset Forfeiture Unit seized all the family's assets in October 2001. Despite the fact that the Govenders' businesses, property and cars were supposed to have been seized they were allowed to manage the financial affairs of their businesses and help themselves to the cash takings for "living expenses". The Asset Forfeiture Unit complained to Dean Friedman, the curator of the Govenders' property, about the way in which the Govenders' assets were being managed. KPMG employee Johan Heyns that was appointed to guard assets seized from the family, as well as a member of the Eastern Cape's Joint Anti-Corruption Task Team, have fallen under suspicion after spending a holiday at the Govender's luxury holiday home. A formal disciplinary process has been initiated against Heyns within KPMG and it has also taken more direct control over the assets.
Full Report in Sunday Times

REFORM: Sita takes tenders to the road

Lesley Stones reports that accusations of flawed and unfair government technology tendering processes have prompted the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) to improve the way in which they handle tenders and procurement. Processes of the Sita, which is responsible for issuing and awarding technology tenders on behalf of state departments, have received strong criticism from aggrieved bidders who have accused Sita of incompetence and corruption. Sita handled more than 300 tenders worth R2,8 billion in 2003. Stones report that investigations in Sita highlighted administrative problems, but no corruption.
Full Report in Business Day

Gugulakhe Masango reports that Sita is moving swiftly to streamline its procurement process in order to deliver cost-effective services for the government and its clients. An ombudsman office has been set up to ensure that business is allocated properly.
Full Report in Business Report (3 February 2004)

REFORM: M&R and Aveng sign up to stamp out corruption

Quentin Wray reports that Murray & Roberts and Aveng, two of South Africa's largest construction and engineering companies, together with some of the world's biggest names, have signed an accord to combat corruption in the industry. This agreement was signed under the auspices of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. According to this agreement, firms will adopt a "zero tolerance policy on bribery and will develop the internal systems and controls needed to implement the policy". M&R and Aveng have an annual turnover of R10 billion and R13 billion respectively in 2003.
Full Report in Business Report

REFORM: Forfeiture unit wants criminal assets loophole plugged

Business Day reports that the "Asset Forfeiture Unit intends to recommend that Justice Minister Penuell Maduna close a loophole used to contest legislation that the unit uses to assist other countries by freezing proceeds of crime hidden in South Africa". Willie Hofmeyr, the head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, maintains that whilst the legislation envisaged that South African courts accept the foreign court's order to freeze assets, the problem was that this could be done only when the court order was a "final order" and not subject to review or appeal. Since it could take months or even years to complete if an appeal was lodged, the unit was to ask Maduna to delete the requirement that the order be final. Hofmeyr states that the need for an amendment came forward with the Cape High Court case of German businessman Alexander Falk, who faces a 500 million Euro fraud case in Hamburg.
Full Report in Business Day

REFORM: Southern Africa: Bishops in Churches Anti-Corruption Campaign

AllAfrica reports that the Southern African Catholic Bishop's Conference (SACBC), which is constituted by the bishops of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland, together with eight different Christian denominations has joined hands with a group of business people to launch the campaign "Churches Against Corruption" (CH-A-CO). It is reported that the Church is concerned that "our young democracy runs the risk of allowing corruption to become part of culture" and that "The Church condemns the misappropriation of public resources by legal practitioners, politicians, government leaders, religious leaders and public servants, and the misuse of public office". The bishops urged all people to resist the temptation of corruption and to blow the whistle against it.
Full Report in allAfrica .com

REFORM: New plan to deal with corruption

Patrick Cull reports that Public Service Administration Minister Geraldine Moleketi stated that the government is developing an integrated corruption management information system in an attempt to "improve the efficiency of reporting on corruption and protection of whistle-blowers". Since the government presently has no single database of this kind of information, it has been unable to provide "hard, consolidated statistics on corruption". The new system, that would allow all stakeholders to capture and maintain information through a web-based interface, will enable the government to address major gaps in the Department's knowledge of the incidence and perceptions of corruption, and would also contribute to the roll-out of the public service anti-corruption strategy.
Full Report in The Herald

REFORM: Scorpions will be fearless in probing senior officials

Guy Jepson reports that National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka stated that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Scorpions will continue to investigate high-ranking officials in the light of the Hefer spy inquiry. Despite successes achieved by the NPA in 2003, Ngcuka identified the need to transform the NPA comprehensively in the face of a "new reality". In order to lead the fight against crime to the next level, according to Ngcuka, the NPA needs an attitude change, a leadership change. A new leadership initiative, "the fearless executive" was accordingly embraced.
Full Report in This Day (12 February 2004)

The Freedom of Expression Institute

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) was formed in January 1994 from a merger of two organisations involved in campaigning for freedom of expression during the apartheid-era, namely the Campaign for Open Media (COM) and the Anti-Censorship Action Group (ACAG). The FXI has recently established the Media Defence Fund in order to sponsor freedom of expression court cases on behalf of media who are not able to afford the legal costs.

Since South Africa is at an early stage of building a democracy, the FXI emphasises South Africa's need of strong institutions in order to campaign for and uphold democratic values. In line with the campaign to uphold democratic values, the FXI is committed to promote the values of freedom of speech and expression. The work of FXI involves monitoring (watchdog) and research functions, litigation, educational activities and campaigns. The FXI has the following seven aims:

To ensure the repeal or amendment of laws inhibiting freedom of expression and association



To ensure that the government does not attempt to enact new legislation to curb freedom of expression



To ensure that those whose right to communicate is interfered with have access to the courts



To educate and mobilise the public to resist any encroachments on their rights to receive and impart information, ideas and opinion



To campaign for freedom of information on a grassroots level, rather than simply focusing attention on the powers of state. Much censorship is informal, and the FXI and concerned groups need to develop strategies to counter it



To continue the role of actively influencing media policy developments to ensure the freedom, independence and diversity of media in South Africa



To express solidarity with, and protect victims of censorship

For more information about the Freedom of Expression Institute, please visit the FXI website

ISS SEMINAR: Three strikes against graft (15-17 March 2004)

In Southern Africa three corruption cases have exemplified the positive role that can be played by oversight institutions, prosecuting authorities, the media and other actors within society. To highlight this the ISS Anti-Corruption Strategies programme will be hosting a three days seminar (15-17 March) in Gauteng that will focus on:

the SA Arms Deal


the Lesotho Higlands Water Scheme corruption trial;


the prosecution of those involved in the murder of Mozambican journalist Carlos Cardoso

This seminar will present participants with an opportunities to draw on regional and international expertise to discuss some of the key lessons learnt in all three ground-breaking corruption cases. Learning from mistakes but also taking stock of how all three cases could help shape future anti-corruption initiatives.

Academics, civil society activists, researchers, policy-makers, anti-corruption practitioners and representatives of government, Inter-Governmental Organisations and the private sector are encouraged to register and contribute to the discussion at this meeting.

Details of the seminar will be e-mailed to Umqol'uphandle subscribers within the next week. Alternatively contact Hennie van Vuuren: hvanvuuren@issct.co.za

Please forward announcements you may have concerning conferences, seminars and publications to: umqoled@issct.co.za

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is an applied policy non-profit research organisation with a focus on human security issues on the African continent.

This e-briefing is produced by the SA Anti-Corruption Strategies component which is located within the ISS Organised Crime and Corruption programme in Cape Town and funded by the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA) through the Embassy of Denmark.

Editorial Team:

Hennie van Vuuren (Senior Researcher: Anti-Corruption Strategies)
hvanvuuren@issct.co.za - Tel: 021 4617211
Cari Coetzee (ISS Research Assistant)
Pilisa Gaushe (Manager: ISS Corruption Resource Centre)

Visit the SA Online Corruption Information Centre:
http://www.issafrica.org/corruption
please email: umqoled@issct.co.za

"Corruption and misadministration are inconsistent with the rule of law and the fundamental values of our Constitution. They undermine the constitutional commitment to human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms. They are the antithesis of the open, accountable, democratic government required by the Constitution. If allowed to go unchecked and unpunished they will pose a serious threat to our democratic state". President of the SA Constitutional Court (Judge Arthur Chaskalson), 2000

Umqol'uphandle - SA Corruption Briefing, a monthly free e-briefing, aims to document and inform on instances of corruption in South Africa and the SADC region and assist in raising the debate around effective anti-corruption strategies - with a South African perspective. Published by the ISS - Organised Crime and Corruption Programme, Umqol'uphandle highlights the results of relevant research, initiatives to combat corruption as well as a snapshot of recent corruption related stories, which have appeared in the media. Each edition features the top corruption related story from the SADC region as well as a short profile on a key anti-corruption agency, organisation or instrument.

Umqol'uphandle is inspired by a Xhosa proverb meaning "the moment when something which has been hidden is revealed".