Corruption continues unabated – researcher
CORRUPTION Watch’s latest report revealed the large extent to which corruption had continued unabated during the first half of 2021.
In the analysis report titled “Analysis of Corruption Trends”, senior researcher Melusi Ncala stated that more than 1 964 whistle-blowers reported acts of corruption in the public and private sectors.
The report indicated that while South Africans were desperate to be protected, numerous complaints received from the public showed corruption still ruled the day.
Ncala said that he was born an advocate of social justice, and would always fight for justice and expose corruption. He authored various corruption-related reports in South Africa.
Ncala recently released his latest report through Corruption Watch, expressing the organisation’s concerns about the safety of whistle-blowers whose lives were under threat as a result of exposing graft.
Having worked at the United Nations and several institutions, Ncala said he and a group of three of his visually impaired friends decided to start a media monitoring agency, Behind the Thinking, with the aim of providing evaluations on media activities and to raise awareness of disinformation and fake news.
“We came up with the idea to start this agency to help people understand the reasons behind some of the media reports we read. Starting this venture made me realise that I could also do podcasts and have conversations with people about the analysis we do.
“I have always been a social justice advocate. My mother Joana Ncala was also a social justice activist. In my university days, I always challenged the status quo and asked difficult questions whenever the need arose.
“Being visually impaired has impacted my life. I had to fight for rightful existence in society. I knew it was going to be difficult for me to find a job. If you’re blind you are at the very bottom of finding employment. Fortunately, the Corruption Watch organisation employed me.”
One of his core functions as both researcher and spokesperson for his organisation is to collect and analyse data provided by whistle-blowers, investigate and write reports based on his research, he said. Ncala said it was important to have diversity at media houses and other agencies which continuously exposed the rot in both the public and private sector.
The country needed to take a firm position against corruption and help grow the economy of the country, Ncala said. He encouraged men and women to work with them so that “we all could change the country for the better, including safety and security”.