Unlocking Queer voices in South Africa

Queer Voices Unlocked (QVU) is inspired by Accountability Lab’s Integrity Icon campaign, honoring exemplary public servants by naming and faming them. QVU spotlights exceptional LGBTQI+ public servants championing positive change, breaking down barriers, and advocating for inclusivity. Celebrating their unwavering commitment to Queer rights, these role models tirelessly work towards visibility and representation at all levels of the public service. Our five winners, spanning diverse government departments, are featured in documentary films and podcasts. Led by and for the Queer community, this project aims to inspire people, foster understanding, and promote LGBTQI+ rights, leading to a more inclusive society. Why [...]

2024-04-19T16:35:13+00:0028th February 2024|

#PowerUp – Power cuts exacerbating inequities and deepening the digital divide

#PowerUp is a series of articles honing in on how South Africa’s electricity supply crisis is affecting young people. Written by Jaco Roets and Sara Hoenes Like many young students preparing for exams, Funeka Mpofu spends odd hours studying. However, for Funeka, his inconsistent hours are not by choice. Sweeping power cuts across South Africa are the worst they’ve been in more than two years. The blackouts (locally referred to as load shedding) are hindering the ability of young people to study and apply for jobs. For Funeka, this meant low scores on his college entrance exams, and another year [...]

2023-10-25T09:07:04+00:006th June 2023|

#PowerUp – Youth unemployment in Lenasia

#PowerUp is a series of articles honing in on how South Africa's electricity supply crisis is affecting young people. Written by Lerato Jiyane "It has cost me my job and my dignity." These are the words of a devastated 24-year-old, Vutlhari Khosa, a former employee at an internet café in Lenasia. The café closed down due to load shedding - an experience he describes as heartbreaking. Khosa is no longer able to afford basic household goods and his friends - who are currently employed - no longer treat him as they did before, as they feel he will now be [...]

2023-05-29T16:57:44+00:0029th May 2023|

#PowerUp – Food security in Umbumbulu

#PowerUp is a series of articles honing in on how South Africa's electricity supply crisis is affecting young people. Written by Thobeka Bhengu   In a statement on food security from 1983, the Food and Agriculture Organization said, "Every individual should have access to the basic food items which they need for a better lifestyle". South Africa is facing its biggest electricity crisis since planned power outages began in 2007. The problem is causing irreversible disruption in the security of affordable food. While the country is experiencing four to eight hours or more of load shedding per day, a looming [...]

2023-05-29T16:58:45+00:0029th May 2023|

Deekay Ndoni Sibanda — Activism through art and film

"When I say I’m an activist, I’m on the ground, I’m a street activist. I’m not sitting at a desk — I want to go where things are happening." “I call myself a human rights activist slash a queer rights activist,” says aspiring filmmaker and photographer Deekay Ndoni Sibanda, who is the 39-year-old programme officer for the Accountability Lab’s Integrity Icon campaign. The initiative seeks to highlight the often-overlooked good work that public servants are doing. She told Maverick Citizen that she is very passionate about media advocacy work because of her passion for documenting and narrating activist stories. Activist Deekay Ndoni Sibanda [...]

2022-12-01T00:44:49+00:0018th November 2022|

A public service is only as strong as the people who work in it – recognise the Integrity Icons to squeeze out the bad

By Mark Heywood Maverick Citizen has been a firm promoter of the Integrity Icons campaign. We have done so because without a committed and effective public service we cannot achieve social justice, and because in our day-to-day reporting we frequently come across public servants who work tirelessly and make great sacrifices in the public interest. On Friday evening last week, Accountability Lab South Africa announced the five winners of its 2022 Integrity Icon awards. This was the fifth year of the awards, established in 2018, which according to Sekoetlane Phamodi, the country director of Accountability Lab, aim “to name and fame some of [...]

2022-11-15T01:59:40+00:008th November 2022|

SA’s passionate and inspirational public servants honoured, with policeman taking top award

By Zukiswa Pikoli The Integrity Icons awards present an alternative to the perception that public servants are corrupt and lazy, and showcase that there are some who ‘go the extra mile’ The Accountability Lab has been running the Integrity Icons awards since 2018. The awards showcase the excellent work done by many men and women in the public service, something that Accountability Lab’s country director for SA, Sekoetlane Phamodi, says often goes unnoticed. Sekoetlane Phamodi, country director of Accountability Lab, during the Integrity Icon Awards held at the Anew Hotel in Johannesburg. (Photo: Denvor de Wee) “So often the focus is on what is wrong [...]

2022-11-15T02:05:12+00:007th November 2022|

Supporting Reform and Conscious Music in South Africa & Nigeria

Through the support of Luminate, our Labs in Nigeria and South Africa were able to keep building networks of young music artists - through the Voice2Rep campaign - and government reformers - through the Integrity Icon campaign - all committed to creating a culture of integrity and accountability in their respective societies.  Government Reformers Through Integrity Icon both Labs seek to highlight reformers who can actively push for change within their institutions. They seek to identify Icons who must not only demonstrate honesty, integrity and accountability in their field of work, but also demonstrate the ability to influence social norms [...]

2022-09-12T08:33:55+00:0012th September 2022|

Strengthen the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill

More than my own special interest and participation in the advocacy and formal processes, which gave rise to the development of the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill in the first place, it is our commitment to supporting people to live secure lives that draws Accountability Lab’s special interest to this Bill. Our view of social and public sector accountability is one in which society is supported to build the values, norms and behaviours that enable us to be accountable to one another in the enjoyment of our rights and freedoms. More than the urgent and necessary [...]

2022-04-19T10:10:53+00:005th April 2022|

#JulyUnrest: Reaching the “end of the rainbow” but with no pot of gold in sight

For all of the times South Africa has been called a “Rainbow Nation,” we have only been  chasing rainbows. The recent riots of July 2021 might even indicate that South Africa has reached the “end of the rainbow” but with no pot of gold in sight. Equality remains elusive and this land has never known true reconciliation, writes Lerato Dumse (she/her) from Du Love Media.  The piece forms part of Accountability Lab South Africa’s series Voices of the Youth, portraying the reflections of young people during 2021’s civil unrest.  FIND OUT MORE: Accountability Lab South Africa’s Voices of the Youth [...]

2022-07-16T07:21:42+00:0016th February 2022|
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