Beneficial ownership transparency in Africa slowly gaining ground

A report released in mid-March 2023 by the Tax Justice Network (TJN) shows a slow but steady implementation of beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) regulations across the African continent. Titled Beneficial Ownership Transparency in Africa in 2022, the report reveals the state of play of the introduction of laws addressing the lack of BOT, and examines Read more >

Investigation of Cloete Murray killing a top priority  

On Saturday 18 March, Cloete Murray, a South African accountant known for investigating high-profile corruption cases, and his son Thomas Murray, a legal advisor, were killed in Johannesburg. Corruption Watch and Transparency International call on South African authorities to conduct a thorough and expeditious investigation.  Cloete Murray was renowned as the curator of many high-profile Read more >

Transparency of donations to intra-party political campaigns is a must

By Natalie KeetsiFirst published on the Global Anticorruption Blog In South Africa, the Political Party Funding Act (the PPFA) regulates campaign donations and expenditures to political parties. By imposing various limits and transparency requirements, the PPFA – which is overseen by South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) – is supposed to prevent corruption and other Read more >

State of procurement disaster: a new license to loot

By Caroline JamesFirst published on amaBhungane Key Takeaways The state of disaster regulations confer wide discretion on state institutions to pursue emergency procurement to address the energy crisis There is no detail in the regulations about how emergency procurement processes will be effective or will be subject to sufficient oversight There is a need for Read more >

CSOs demand clarity, transparency in emergency procurement

As civil society organisations dedicated to building an accountable, democratic and capable state, the government’s new disaster management regulations are cause for alarm. The electricity crisis is destroying the livelihoods of our people. We believe that urgent action is needed to address it. The new emergency procurement provisions, however, threaten more corruption and inefficiency. The Read more >

Should Culpable Whistleblowers Be Eligible for Rewards?

By Claire BeutterFirst published on the Global Anticorruption Blog John Doe is a whistle-blower who provided critical information to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding an international bribery scheme, assisting the agency in bringing a successful enforcement action. Doe timely filed an application for reward under a provision of federal law that directs the SEC Read more >

CIPC says SA’s beneficial ownership register almost here

Plans are afoot to tackle South Africa’s lackadaisical beneficial ownership regime. The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has announced that it will implement a beneficial ownership (BO) information collection and storage regime as soon as regulations in that regard are promulgated. Greater BO transparency is a crucial component in the fight against financial crime. Read more >

CSOs demand that Prasa cease harassing whistle-blowers

Image: Col André Kritzinger, used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Addressed to:  Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa Office of the President of the Republic of South Africa Office of the Speaker of Parliament Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport  PRASA, hands off whistleblowers   We, the undersigned organisations, call on the Passenger Rail Agency Read more >