The year ends, but the accountability work does not.

Dear OUTA Supporters,

A new year always invites optimism and 2026 is no different. But every day also demands vigilance.

OUTA exists as a watchdog of the people, when it comes to the abuse of our taxes. We follow public money, challenge abuse of power, and step in when systems fail citizens. That work continues, firmly and visibly and at times, we have to fight this out in the courts.

We are currently litigating against Government on several fronts. This includes the case against Helen Botes, the ex- Joburg Property Company CEO against whom we have filed delinquent director charges, a matter that goes to the heart of consequence management. It also includes our constitutional challenge to close the delinquent director loophole in the PFMA, so that board members of public entities face the same accountability as their private sector counterparts. We are also pursuing legal action relating to Minister Buti Manamela, where rushed and questionable appointments of executives in higher education, simply cannot go unchallenged.

These cases are not symbolic. They are about ensuring standards and ethics are upheld. They are about drawing a clear line between public service and political protection.

This year also carries added significance. 2026 is a local government election year, and while we await the official date of elections, the campaigning has already begun. History tells us to be cautious. Promises will be made. Plans will be announced. Commitments will be loudly proclaimed. Our message to supporters is simple: be skeptical. Judge parties not by what they promise now, but by what they delivered when they held power. 

Beyond the courts and the ballot box, OUTA is watching closely. President Ramaphosa has had the Madlanga Commission’s interim report since December, and South Africans deserve to know what comes next. We are also waiting to see whether the deeply troubling allegations aired at both the Madlanga Commission and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee result in real action, rather than more testimony, more reports, and the followed by more silence. Oversight only matters if meaning change, transparency and accountability flows. 

Many of these themes are reflected in this newsletter. From governance failures and board appointments, to SANRAL’s prolonged board appointments, to the growing confusion around solar registration requirements, the pattern is familiar. On the solar issue in particular, we remain deeply concerned. Municipal enforcement that runs ahead of national legislation is a recipe for chaos. And if this is starting to feel familiar, you are not imagining it. Is this beginning to feel like an e-toll debacle all over again?

We are watching this space carefully and will act where households are placed at unnecessary risk.

Before I close, I want to address something important. In December, a technical error in our mailing system meant that some supporters received a newsletter where their name was replaced with the term “first name”. This should not have happened, and we sincerely apologise for this mistake. Our supporters are not numbers on a database. They are the reason OUTA exists. We have since put additional system checks in place to ensure this does not happen again. This error is in no way a reflection of how we value your support and trust. You are most important to us.

To end on a lighter note, we are starting the year with a small thank you. We have 20 OUTA desktop calendars to give away. To stand a chance to receive one, please email supporter@outa.co.za on or before 15 February to be put into the draw, and tell us what you would like to see more of in this newsletter. The stories. The analysis. The court cases. The wins. Or the warnings. Your feedback helps shape our work.

2026 will not be a quiet year. There is too much unfolding and at stake for that.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue to follow the money, challenge abuse of power, and insist that public authority remains accountable to the people it serves.  

Wayne Duvenage

CEO, OUTA