WITNESSED ANY CORRUPTION LATELY?

Corruption is really everywhere….in politics, the police force, schools, hospitals and so on…what can we as individuals do to expose corruption scandals that are done in these areas of concern? 

Last week Thursday, on the 26^Th of April I was on my way home from school for the long weekend and on the M2 highway to the East Rand (Gauteng, South Africa) I saw a traffic cop accepting money from a person who probably was on the wrong side of the law….it is really sad that traffic officials accept bribery and in the process endanger the lives of other road users.

As individuals let us expose local corruption by sharing each others experiences as well as any corruption-related stories we may have witnessed weather recently or not. I have shared my story…what is yours???

FREEDOM DAY....

Freedom day

To many, freedom day is an annual celebration of our country’s first elections that took place in the year 1994. It represents unity, preservation and restoration of human dignity that was shattered during the Apartheid era.

It really took a while for South Africa to partially overcome oppression from the Apartheid government because many live where lost. Now that SA has overcome the apartheid era, we still have people who continue racism and those who still hold a grudge against white people…if then this is the case can we really say that we have completely overcome racial oppression? I honestly believe not. For us to move towards a better future, we have to let go of the past and believe me I know this is more easily said than done.

Research reveals that during apartheid, crime and corruption were very low because the government restricted people’s movement and applied very strict laws which I could say did not leave much room for crime.Today, we are free and have rights as individuals which protect us, but crime and corruption continue to grow at an alarming rate. Apartheid = crime & corruption free…..Democracy: Crime and corruption driven…..Is freedom getting to our heads?????

 

BRIBERY....



Money can buy you silence...

In countries throughout the world you find that the easiest way to get out of trouble is through tjotjo( South African term for bribery)....

I have personally come into contact with people who have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol by the South African (Johannesburg) metro police. All it took for them to get out of trouble was R200 and it was almost as if  the traffic cop vanished into thin air.The bottom line is, if you get pulled over, be it next to the road or the border queue, you ARE going to reach for your wallet.

Although this is the method most use to get out of trouble with the law...can we honestly say that we as road users are really safe on the roads because officials who are supposed to ensure that people do not drink and drive are now taking bribery and allowing these people to continue driving and possibly causing road accidents.

However, bribery does not exist in the police force only but also in schools and varsities because in schools you find that students are buying exam and test question papers from educators and it is regarded as a normal everyday thing. Corruption......Is this really what our forefathers fought for during the struggle???  

Corruption and Poverty






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  The leading cause for corruption and crime in Africa and countries all over the world is poverty and according to the Mail & Guardian that was published  on the  12th of April 2012, almost more than half of the South African population is living below the poverty line surviving on less than R500 per month.

With such statistics, it is no wonder crime and corruption are at their highest, thirst and hunger are enough to drive anyone to doing whatever it takes to put a decent meal on the table. As a result of poverty , many people are deprived of a good education which could enable them to better themselves and break the poverty chain.  Poverty has gone down over time , but clearly not enough and this is only part of the dilemma we face in South Africa, because while poverty levels decline, inequality has increased and the gap between the haves and have-nots continues to grow.

The government alone cannot combat poverty .... let us also step in and help feed as well as dress the poor.It will surely help the fight against corruption because constantly complaining about crime and corruption does not make it go away...if we focus on the root of this problem  I strongly believe that South Africa at some stage or another will definitely overcome crime and corruption. 

I was a victim…..

At the rate corruption is growing, we will all at some point of our lives become victims of corruption and crime in our own country. Unfortunately for some of us that time was now rather than later….

On the 22^nd of September last year, criminals broke into our house and stole R30, 000 worth of goods and till this day the case that we opened cannot be located. It has somehow disappeared and concidering the fact that corruption not only exists amongst us as ordinary citizens but also in our defence force, It wouldn’t be so hard to  believe that the people who broke into our house gave the policemen who were in charge of our case a piece of the pie buying them a clean record.

It is really painful to work for something and have someone else just come and take it from you and instead of the Police force working together to protect us as the citizens of their country; they are working together in destroying the nation that was built from blood, sweat and tears by our ancestors.

 The direction in which S.A is heading saddens me because if we do not feel safe in our own country….where else shall we feel safe?  

"Africans inherited corruption"



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According to the 'Sunday Times Independent' published on the 19th of March 2012, "Post-independent African countries inherited deeply corrupt institutions, laws and values from colonial and apartheid governments". Instead of changing these laws for the better considering the fact that today most African nations  follow democratic policies  consisting of  diverse  cultures, we are slowly destroying Africa through corruption, and although we might not see the effects at the present moment, I fear that in the near future our Economy will collapse due to financial loses.

In February this year , South Africa announced its first trillion-rand Budget and the first thing businessman Richard Young said was that he wondered how  how much of the money would leak out of the economy through corruption. “I can guarantee that between 20 and 30 percent of it will be lost to corruption,” Young says.

We are all aware of corruption and have surely come across or have been involved in it somehow...and while millions and millions of rands  are being lost through corruption , someone out there is dying of hunger because in order for a country to provide for its  people ( social grants) it has to be financially stable.Instead of taking from the poor...lets give something back. For any donations you would like to make ,please visit :http:// www.actionagainsthunger.org.



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BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION IN S.A









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 In the world we live in today it is believed that money is the root of all evil because bribery and corruption continue to grow and occupy a dominant position in our country as well as in our press. According to the website: ethicsmonitor.co.za, " This ranges from apparently petty bribes to traffic officials to significant amounts paid as "commissions" for securing tenders. While the amount may differ - whether R100 or R1 million - the nature of the action is not different. It all amounts to bribery and corruption."

  WHAT CAN BE DONE TO COMBAT   CORRUPTION?

In order for us as the nation to begin the fight against corruption , our government certainly has a role to fulfil in this regard. In August 2011, the deputy president Kgalema Motlante addressed the nation at the Wits University acknowledging that after Aparthied, the second biggest problem South Africa has faced is corruption. Saying and doing the right things should certainly go hand in hand because if high profile individuals in parliament are slow to act on this fast growing problem, it raises the criticism that there is a lack of political will to do something about corruption and bribery.However, it is not only the government's responsibility to act upon this ever growing problem. We, too, have to act.

 I plan to take a stand against corruption by making myself heard through my blog because it is up to us to act now....how do you plan to act against corruption?