Addressing last week’s World Economic Forum Africa meeting, ISS executive director Anton du Plessis said the biggest threat to peace and development in Africa was corruption and not terrorism, drought, HIV/Aids or malaria. “Corruption is … arguably one of Africa’s biggest killers.”
Our heroes for the week are the team from Kriterion, four university students who are using technology to tackle corruption in government procurement by making the process more transparent and less prone to human manipulation.
The UK’s anti-corruption summit, hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron, aims to drive a worldwide increase in action against corruption. Already over 40 countries have issued statements setting out the concrete actions they will take in order to tackle corruption. Read South Africa’s statement here.
Offering entertainment, making cash payments, providing personal gifts or services, and misstating financial performance – these and more unethical behaviour patterns are condoned by many businesses worldwide, EY’s 2016 global fraud survey reveals.
Download the judgment handed down by the Pretoria High Court at the end of April, which sets aside the decision made seven years ago to drop corruption charges against Jacob Zuma.
Eighteen months after the G20 set up principles to address the problem of beneficial ownership, not much has happened globally. However, in its third Open Government Partnership national action plan, launched last week, South Africa committed to taking concrete action to implement the principles.
As delegates prepare for the upcoming international anti-corruption conference in London, it’s worth remembering the menace corruption poses to development, human dignity, and global security.
This week at the Open Government Partnership meeting in Cape Town, South Africa launched its third national action plan which includes a high-level commitment to creating a public register of beneficial ownership information. The move has been welcomed by civil society organisations.
Corruption Watch is one of a group of civil society organisations which have written an open letter to South Africa’s special envoy to the Open Government Partnership, expressing their deep dismay at government’s inadequate efforts to implement and co-ordinate OGP policies in the country.