Only two parts of Al Jazeera’s explosive four-part investigative series on gold smuggling out of Zimbabwe have been aired, but officials from that country are scurrying to delve deeper into the allegations. The series, titled Gold Mafia, exposes gold smuggling from Zimbabwe involving high-ranking officials. The two remaining parts air on 6 and 13 April, respectively.
Today Corruption Watch releases its 11th annual report, titled Accelerating Justice. The report reflects a diversity of views and accounts of the organisation’s activities and perspectives on corruption during 2022, highlighting Corruption Watch’s relentless push towards justice for all.
Distobotla local municipality is a sad example of the widespread failure of South Africa’s municipalities to provide basic services, use allocated funds efficiently, and prioritise the needs of the people above those of political players.
A strong and thriving civil society is an essential component of a healthy democracy – but many governments are deliberately restricting civil space. Now the Open Government Partnership has introduced a new initiative which aims to unpack civic space challenges, understand progress, and learn from experiences across different regions.
Corruption Watch will release its 11th annual corruption report, Accelerating justice, on Tuesday, 4 April 2023. The report will highlight a wide range of focus areas during 2022, and will also include the most commonly reported types of corruption over the year, as well as initiatives around whisttle-blower support and protection, and work to improve access to justice for communities most impacted by corruption.
Beneficial ownership transparency in Africa is gaining ground. A report released recently by the Tax Justice Network shows that at the start of 2023, 23 of 54 African countries have in place laws and regulations requiring the real people – the beneficial owners – behind legal vehicles to disclose themselves to a government authority.
It is one thing to talk about upholding human rights, but another to actively put those words into practice, writes Moepeng Valencia Talane. In South Africa, neglect, corruption, malfeasance, and poor governance result in violations of people’s human rights – even their right to life.
Corruption Watch and Transparency International have demanded that authorities speedily investigate the recent murders of Johannesburg accountant Cloete Murray and his son, Thomas. Murray was a well-known corruption investigator and was the liquidator of state capture linked African Global Operations – formerly known as Bosasa. The organisations say it is crucial for the future of anti-corruption in South Africa that those who attack anti-corruption defenders are held responsible.