CW pushes for transparency in IEC commissioner appointments

Since 2016, Corruption Watch (CW) has actively monitored leadership appointments, especially to the Chapter 9 institutions that support our democratic framework. Accordingly, not only have we vetted candidates in line for such leadership positions, but we have also made written submissions to several committees in Parliament and to Chapter 9 institutions on the transparency of Read more >

African countries are addressing public procurement weaknesses

Public procurement – the process by which the government contracts for the provision of goods, services, and infrastructure – presents one of the biggest corruption risks in modern society. Opportunistic officials find creative ways to include bribery, fraud, collusion, nepotism, bid-rigging, and other corrupt practices as part of the deal, which becomes a lucrative enterprise Read more >

Wanted: a binding treaty that ends corporate impunity

Image: Centre for Environmental Rights By Ezile MadlalaFirst published on African Law Matters On 28 and 29 May 2025, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Alternative Information & Development Centre co-hosted the seventh Annual Regional Binding Treaty Indaba in Johannesburg. The event brought together mining-affected communities, civil society groups, Read more >

South Africa’s removal from FATF grey list draws nearer

In February this year we reported that South Africa had addressed all but two of the action items highlighted as regulatory weaknesses by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), after a mutual evaluation review in 2021. This resulted in the country’s unwelcome debut on the FATF grey list in February 2023. The FATF is the Read more >

Beyond the rhetoric: youth and anti-corruption efforts in Indonesia

If Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo was known for his Nawacita (nine goals), his successor Prabowo Subianto is introducing Astacita — an approach centred on eight strategic agendas, one of which focuses on eliminating corruption. However, tackling corruption cannot be achieved through national policy alone. As a PhD student researching local governance, I believe that civil Read more >

Government starts review of social grants payment system

Image: Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp In January we reported that the parliamentary portfolio committee for social development had decided that it wanted a full investigation into the entire social grant payment system. The reason given was that committee members were concerned about the integrity of the social relief of distress (SRD) and other grants that were Read more >