Entries by Corruption Watch

Zuma pleads not guilty, corruption trial postponed to 19 July

26th May 2021 in , /by

The corruption trial of former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused, French arms manufacturer Thales, resumed today in the Pietermaritzburg High Court after a week-long break, but has been postponed until 19 July by Judge Piet Koen. This is to give the state time to analyse the documents related to the special plea Zuma has entered for the removal of lead prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer of the National Prosecuting Authority, and prepare its response.

New report reveals questionable use of public emergency funds for Covid-19

26th May 2021 in , /by

A new report, released in April 2021 by the Financial Transparency Coalition, reveals that an astounding 63% of the Covid-19 recovery funds spent in developing countries so far have boosted the bank accounts of big corporations instead of going toward welfare, small firms, or those working in the informal economy. Furthermore, the distribution of recovery funds, including those provided by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, is marked by a lack of transparency.

Opacity in Covid vaccine trials, sales contracts could scupper global response

25th May 2021 in , /by

A new report released today by Transparency International and Toronto University shows that transparency in information relating to Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials and contracts is the exception rather than the rule. For Whose Benefit? is an in-depth study of the development and sale of the world’s top 20 Covid-19 vaccines, including those developed by AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer.

Zuma to plead ‘not guilty’ when corruption trial resumes on 26 May

17th May 2021 in , /by

The corruption trial of former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused, French arms manufacturer Thales, has begun. Judge Piet Koen adjourned today’s proceedings until 26 May, to accommodate an application regarding the presence of state advocate Billy Downer in the case. Zuma’s formal plea of ‘not guilty’ will be entered on the same day. The trial is set to run from 17 May to 20 June 2021, and such days afterwards as are required.

Zuma corruption trial to commence on 17 May, postponement not ruled out

13th May 2021 in , , /by

Sixteen years of dodging corruption, racketeering and money laundering charges may finally be at an end for former president Jacob Zuma, who is set to go on trial for those charges on Monday 17 May. We say ‘may’ because Zuma currently has no legal team and there has been speculation that the case could be postponed on Monday if he fails to secure legal representation by then.

Conduct of Seriti commission judges to be investigated

12th May 2021 in , , /by

Corruption Watch and Right2Know successfully challenged the findings of the Seriti commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption in the controversial arms deal of 1999. Now, two years after the commission’s report was set aside by the High Court, Judges Willie Seriti and Hendrick Musi, who presided over it, face an investigation into their conduct in the matter.

OECD a “rich countries club” helping firms commit tax abuse, TJN shows

10th May 2021 in , , /by

The equivalent of 26-million nurses’ annual salaries every year, or 50 nurses’ annual salaries every minute – this is how much tax revenue is siphoned from poorer countries around the world, with the not insignificant assistance of the OECD, which sets the rules for global taxation. Read up on the 2021 Corporate Tax Havens Index, released in March 2021 by the Tax Justice Network. This article is part 3 of our mini-series on financial secrecy.