The ANC has made a strategic blunder in throwing its support behind their crippled leader, Jacob Zuma, writes Allister Sparks. That will come back to haunt the party. But we are slowly learning how a compromised cabinet, packed with Zuma toadies, were all set to green light the building of several Russian-made nuclear reactors, and how the Guptas and Zumas were going to make a killing. Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene blocked the deal and was fired. Here's how it went down. 

Several South Africans were fingered in the so-called Panama Papers expose which detailed how "the rich and powerful hide their money in off-shore tax shelters". Among them were Zimplats, Fidentia and President Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma. But as Moonofalabama.org points out, this selective leak is a classic blackmail tactic against enemies of the US empire. 

Despite the commentariat's claim that only the ANC can reform itself, the Democratic Alliance is right to ignore them and proceed to bring impeachment proceedings against President Zuma, writes Gareth van Onselen.

Given the rash of revelations of SA's "capture" by the Guptas, the disastrous hiring and firing in the finance ministry, and the "nothing going on here" attitude of the ANC, a ratings downgrade seems inevitable. The smugness of the ruling party in the face of disaster is reminiscent of the dying years of the National Party. 

The SA Democratic Union (SADTU) gets a free pass for selling teaching posts for R30,000 a pop in a country innured to such outrages. It is a symptom of the decay that has infested the extractive sectors that feed off the labours of others, writes Cilliers Brink of the Institute of Race Relations.

Noseweek highlights two recent judgments that give cause for hope. One where the judge ordered a half-built building in Durban to be demolished, and another where the judge slammed delaying tactics and abuse of police and private investigators by deep-pocketed litigators. 

Nomgcobo Jiba of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has had a charmed life under the apparent protection of President Jacob Zuma, who many believe she is protecting - in return - from prosecution. The political interference in the NPA is legendary and this week just got a whole lot worse, says the Mail & Guardian.

The South African Police Service, like its master the ANC, has become adept at protecting its own in the face of serious accusations of criminality, fraud and nepotism. To this extent, it is behaving like the ruling political party, writes Gareth van Onselen in Business Day.

A Johannesburg judge has been suspended pending investigations to accusations he attempted to solicit a bribe to make a case disappear. It is alleged he accepted R90,000 in cash but the accused in the case still ended up in prison.

What's behind the suspenion of Hawks chief Anwa Dramat? Was it his supposedly illegal rendition of four Zimbabweans to their home country where two of them subsequently died at the hands of the police? Or was it his investigation into President Zuma's Nkandla palace, built with public money? Or something else?

The SA government's response to corruption is to call for committees and investigating panels. Then it proceeds to undermine its own anti-corruption bodies, such as the National Protector. If it wants to get rid of corruption, it should start at the top.

SA ranks 67th out of 144 countries in terms of corruption, putting us in some pretty dodgy company. Is there evidence of "corruption fatigue" setting in, to the point where people do not pay much attention to it anymore? 

Corruption Watch has called for the police to investigate the R10 billion tender granted to Cash Paymaster Services in 2012 after a losing bidder claimed the tender process was flawed. The Constitutional Court agreed, prompting the SA Social Security Agency to re-run its tender.  

President Zuma's Nkandla residence has cost the taxpayer R215 million, with R31 million of work still in progress. Last year, Zuma told parliament his family paid for the buildings, but this is contradicted by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who says the President must be called to account for this spending. 

A series of reports from Public Protector Thuli Madonsela paints a damning picture of corruption within President Zuma's administration. Opposition parties and ANC alliance partners have started feasting on the allegations contained in these reports.

Yet another anti-corruption unit is proposed to tackle fraud and corruption in the public sector. But this one is different, and deserves public support, says David Lewis of Corruption Watch.