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The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is thrilled to announce that we have been selected as a recipient of the second tranche of the European Union-funded “Enhancing Accountability Programme”. This exciting opportunity allows us to work alongside esteemed partners to promote transparency, fight corruption, and bolster accountability within South Africa’s parliamentary processes.

OUTA partnered with the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) and OpenUp to propose the development of a Parliamentary Oversight Dashboard. The dashboard project aims to create a user-friendly, open-source platform for monitoring and assessing parliamentary performance. The dashboard will offer real-time information on user engagement, data accessibility, and transparency within the parliamentary system. It will facilitate public and stakeholder engagement and will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of parliamentary actions, with a focus on inclusivity for marginalised groups. The project aligns with OUTA’s commitment to enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in parliamentary processes.

Our project receives EUR 669 000 from the EU, which makes up 80% of the cost of the project.

The official launch of the programme took place on 25 October 2023, at the Kerzner Building, University of Johannesburg. The event featured distinguished speakers and contributors, underlining the significance of the project.

At the launch, Professor Sarah Gravett, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, opened the event with inspiring remarks. Advocate Simon Ferreira, Director of the International Development Cooperation Unit at the National Treasury, extended his support to the new grantees, emphasising the importance of collaboration between civil society organisations and state institutions.

The EU Ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the EU’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Dr Jozet Muller, Programme Manager: Higher Education and Governance, of the EU Delegation to South Africa, presented an overview of the Enhancing Accountability Programme, outlining the objectives and potential impact of this crucial initiative. The programme aims to improve transparency, combat corruption, and strengthen accountability. By fostering collaboration between civil society, government, and the private sector, the programme aims to enhance resource efficiency, ultimately benefiting citizens.

The event also featured a compelling panel discussion on corruption and accountability, with participation from the following representatives:

• Dr Halfdan Lynge-Mangueira, Wits School of Governance (facilitator)

• Adv Stefanie Fick, OUTA

• Tess Peacock, The Equality Collective

• Karam Singh, Corruption Watch

• Noncedo Madubedube, Equal Education

• Rehad Desai, Human Rights Media Trust

The ceremony concluded with a contract signing for the new grants, led by Ambassador Kramer.

As one of the grant recipients, OUTA is elated to receive financial support from the EU, renowned partners, and civil society organisations in the pursuit of a more transparent, accountable, and effective parliamentary system. We recognise the urgency of our mission, with the 2024 elections on the horizon, and we are deeply committed to strengthening democracy and driving positive change in South Africa.

This collaboration demonstrates the power of collective efforts in making a lasting impact. We would like to express our gratitude to our partners and all stakeholders for their unwavering support and collaboration in this endeavour.

More information

More on OUTA’s work on parliamentary oversight is here.