Active projects
We have many active projects which are currently divided into five portfolios.
Use the navigation on the left to find out more.
SANRAL e-Tolls
In 2012 we embarked on a wide-reaching and on-going campaign exposing the irrationality, inefficiency, and unlawfulness of e-Tolls.
SANRAL road construction costs
A freeway upgrade overpriced by R10bn, justified the decision to introduce e-Tolls and has paved the way for the capture of another State Owned Entity.
SAA Campaign
Over the past few years, SAA has been plagued by poor leadership and questionable financial management. The continued loss of talent and need for taxpayer-funded bailouts has become an unacceptable burden to society.
SAA Dudu Myeni delinquent director claim
During Ms Myeni’s tenure as Chairperson, SAA has lost an estimated R10.5 billion over a period of 5 years, despite that fact that SAA was profitable between 2010 and 2012.
Ben Ngubane Criminal Charges
Dr Ben Ngubane resigned from the Eskom board on 12 June 2017. He’s been a member of the Eskom board since December 2014 and chair since October 2015. He’s presided over Eskom’s attempt to take on the unaffordable nuclear build, and then the unforgettable debacle with Brian Molefe as Eskom boss.
Eskom Secrecy
Eskom has requested an exemption from transparency requirements in the revised Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD)- the process which will set electricity prices from April 2018.
Unbundling Eskom
Separation of Eskom’s control on both electricity generation and transmission will break their stranglehold over the grid. This will allow open competition for energy generation at the lowest cost of production, to reach the consumer. In short, this challenge is to reduce the costs of energy to the consumer.
Eskom Campaign
Between 2007 and 2014, Eskom’s revenue increased from R39bn per annum to R137bn. Yet their Electricity supply to the nation remained relatively unchanged. As a result, electricity tariffs have become exorbitant and unacceptable.
The Nuclear Deal
Our investigation into government’s new nuclear build program has revealed this to be economically unaffordable and an unnecessary catastrophe for South Africa. Furthermore, the manner in which government is forcing the program is highly questionable.
Dept. of Water and Sanitation
Poor governance within the Department of Water and Sanitation is a great cause for concern. For some time now, we have been receiving information from whistleblowers on mismanagement and corruption within the water sector.
SABC Campaign
SABC is plagued by poor leadership and questionable financial management practices. The continued loss of talent and revenue has become an unacceptable burden to society. Recent autocratic leadership-imposed censorship and questionable bias of information have given rise to questions about the role, service and purpose of this SOE. Has our public broadcaster become a state broadcaster?
Carbon Tax Campaign
We are questioning whether Carbon Tax will achieve the intended purpose of reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by way of taxation (a stick approach) thereby forcing business behavior change. Or is it simply another revenue stream for the government?
OUR MISSION
To be a trusted vehicle for positive change, promoting and advancing the South African Constitution and other democratic processes by:
- Challenging the taxation policy and the regulatory environment (as a whole or part), as and when deemed as being irrational, unfit or ineffective for their intended purpose
- Questioning and challenging the squandering, maladministration and corrupt use of taxes, using our clear and effective methodology, and then to hold those responsible for the maladministration and / or corruption, to account for their behaviour and actions.
We are apolitical and rely on funding from the public, business and other donor institutions, to do our work of investigation, research, communication, empowerment and litigation.
The OUTA methodology
1.
Tax Policy
OUTA’s work in the area of tax policy evaluation seeks to ensure that rational and meaningful introduction of taxes takes place and that society does not become overburdened or negatively affected. Get more
2.
Tax Regulation
OUTA believes it is important that when introducing new or managing existing taxes, the regulatory environment is both efficient and is effectively applied. Get more
3.
Conduct
Conduct is the most active area of OUTA’s work, being that of addressing the maladministration, waste and corrupt use of state revenues and expenditure through a thorough 5 step process. Get more
Step 1: Investigate
By conducting meaningful and thorough research, OUTA sets out to ensure the issue raised or presented for our attention, is one that is real, significant and relevant.
Step 2: Engage
The engagement process provides an opportunity for those implicated in the issue, to respond, explain, rationalise and/or rectify the situation.
Step 3: Expose
Once engagement has taken place, and has been exhausted, and we believe the situation/issue remains serious enough, we then expose the matter along with the people implicated, to the public, media and the authorities. This process is undertaken in the hope that greater exposure may lead to a rectification of the situation or behaviour.
Step 4: Mobilise
Should mobilisation not have the desired effect, we begin to conduct other activities to highlight the issue or problem, once again seeking a situation of sufficient discomfort to the perpetrators to continue with the unacceptable behaviour and conduct. This may be through various forms of communication, protest, marches, Etc.
Step 5: Litigate
When the unacceptable behaviour or situation persists, we begin the process of using the laws of the land and our constitution to correct the matter through various avenues of litigation, mediation and arbitration available to society.
Knowledge Centre
