South Africa must prepare for FATF greylisting, says BLSA report

By David ThomasFirst published on African Business The probability of South Africa being greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is as high as 85%, according to a report commissioned by Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) and compiled by analysts Intellidex.  The FATF, an intergovernmental organisation founded to develop policies to combat money laundering Read more >

Reserve Bank seizes Jooste property and items worth billions

It’s been five years since the Steinhoff scandal broke. Corruption Watch (CW) was one of many who condemned the financial irregularities which resulted in the South African multinational retail holding company overstating its assets and profits by nearly $12-billion. Since that time the calls for justice and consequences have not let up, especially those targeted Read more >

Deliberate delay on NSF forensic investigation report?

By Lesedi Masoko The R2.5-billion that remains unaccounted for in the National Skills Fund (NSF) is a severe setback for South Africa’s young people, many of whom rely on government support for the chance to further their studies and careers. The NSF provides funding for skills development initiatives that are identified by the National Skills Read more >

State capture update: hope after recent spate of arrests, charges

A lengthy state ban on international consultancy giant; a former cabinet minister and member of parliament in court, multiple arrests in the North West transport scandal and changes to the final state capture report. All developments making headlines recently as the wheels of justice begin to turn in government’s response to the findings and recommendations Read more >

CW and AmaB submit on anti-money laundering bill, express concerns

In a comprehensive joint submission to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance today, non-profit organisations Corruption Watch and AmaBhungane expressed concern that the haste with which the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill was developed may have compromised its effectiveness. The bill was prepared in a matter of months after the Financial Read more >

TI: Global enforcement against foreign bribery at record low

South Africa’s record of enforcement and prosecution against foreign bribery remains woefully low, at a time when global enforcement has dropped to its lowest level since Transparency International (TI) began measuring enforcement patterns of some of the world’s biggest exporters in 2009. When huge multinational companies bribe foreign public officials with the ultimate aim of Read more >

State capture: What to do with the offenders?

By Karam Singh and Tharin PillayFirst published in New Agenda, issue 86, third quarter 2022 South Africa’s recent history has been characterised by deep-rooted political corruption, known as state capture. For the good of the country and for every honest person in it, it is imperative that all parties implicated in this state capture are Read more >

Exposing Procurement Corruption: 10 Questions to Ask

By Richard MessickFirst published on the Global Anticorruption Blog No government activity is more susceptible to corruption than public procurement. The process by which government decides what to buy and from whom is lengthy, technically complex, and riddled with decision points that give procurement officers enormous discretion. Oversight is thus especially difficult.  Moreover, because so much Read more >

MSAA: An Act in good faith, but will it work?

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the long-awaited Municipal Systems Amendment Act (MSAA) into law on 19 August – an important legislative change in the administrative management of local government. The Act seeks to regularise the appointment and performance of municipal managers and the decision-makers around them to ensure cleaner local administrations.   But while political agendas Read more >