Organisation sheds light on Clairwood land corruption

IN KEEPING with its mission to amplify anti‐corruption, Corruption Watch recently engaged with communities in the Clairwood area on the topic of land corruption, as part of its participation in the Land Corruption in Africa (LCA) project.

The initiative was driven by international anti‐corruption organisation, Transparency International, for which Corruption Watch is the official South African branch.

The Johannesburg-based organisation held four open discussions with the community, two of which were in Clairwood. The discussions focused on the issues of land corruption and the experiences residents have had with it, industries and heavy-duty trucks being allowed to operate in a residential area, as well as managing agents who are not doing their job, according to residents in the apartment blocks affected.

The final two days saw engagements through one‐on‐one interviews with the aim of getting detailed accounts of residents’ experiences and sharing information on corruption in the policing and health sectors.

To date, Corruption Watch has received 179 reports from the public that relate specifically to land corruption. “KZN accounts for 16 per cent of the 179 corruption cases we have received with regards to land corruption, just behind the North West and Gauteng, which make up 22 per cent and 18 per cent respectively,” said Corruption Watch researcher and the project’s leader, Melusi Ncala.

“Where we have sought to intervene in the North West through activities relating to our mining research, in this province, it was imperative to first understand what the land corruption issues are for the residents. Fortunately, the LCA project presents us with this opportunity, from which we are hoping that an advocacy plan will emerge that will champion the people’s struggles as we right the wrongs of a tragic past.”

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— Corruption Watch (@Corruption_SA) July 1, 2019