For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Treasury assures transparency, accountability not compromised with Eskom’s financial exemption, Corruption Watch report shows most reported corruption is in local government and, Cosatu says Eskom and Transnet exemption is reckless

Treasury assures transparency, accountability not compromised with Eskom’s financial exemption

National Treasury has asserted that transparency and accountability will not be compromised with the move to exempt Eskom from declaring its irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

This follows backlash after a special Government Gazette by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana was published exempting the ailing power utility from disclosing irregular spending in its annual financial statements, for three years.

However, Eskom is still required to disclose financial and non-financial information on irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in its annual report.

Treasury argues that the new reporting is in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s response in dealing with State capture and corruption.

Corruption Watch report shows most reported corruption is in local government 

Corruption Watch has said it intends to increase pressure for transparency and accountability in the implementation of laws, appointments of leaders, procurement processes, and adherence to good governance system.

The organisation released its eleventh corruption report, ‘Accelerating Justice’, which highlighted that local government corruption was the most reported, with just under two-thirds of whistleblower complaints.

The report showed an equal spread of reports between national and provincial government levels, with these structures accounting for 28% and 26% of graft allegations respectively.

The three biggest culprits are the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, and City of Ekurhuleni, which collectively account for 58% of incidents reported in relation to local government.

Cosatu says Eskom and Transnet exemption is reckless

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions has accused Treasury of facilitating what it calls another round of State capture by “recklessly” exempting Eskom and Transnet from disclosing irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

A similar exemption was announced for Transnet in 2022 for three financial years.

Cosatu says it rejects the move which it calls an “abominable decision devoid of any common sense, good governance, or legal rationale”.

It warns that the move is a green light to criminals to loot with impunity as both Eskom and Transnet were flagged by the Zondo Commission as serial offenders who have no proper management and governance systems.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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