Posts

OPINIONS

Will Africa become Russian oligarchs’ new safe haven? 

First published on Financial Transparency Coalition  During the last decade, Russia has expanded its interests and presence in Africa by investing in the mining sector and increasing military support to fragile states, primarily through private military contractors and mercenaries. One of Africa’s most prominent private military groups is the Wagner Group, believed to be financed by one Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

Developed countries highly complicit in financial secrecy 

Illicit financial flows create an unjust society and further worsen inequality, especially for underdeveloped countries. This is the message from the Tax Justice Network (TJN), which released its 2022 Financial Secrecy Index (FSI) on 16 May.  The FSI is a ranking of jurisdictions which fuel financial secrecy by helping individuals to hide their finances from Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

High level panel discussion: the state of play of BOT in SA

South Africa has made some progress, but not nearly enough – that’s the message from panellists at last week’s two-day conference titled Collective action for beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) in South Africa: From commitment to implementation. Organised by Corruption Watch, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Open Government Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

BOT conference: accessible, reliable information will boost prosecutions

Corruption Watch, together with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Open Government Partnership, and Open Ownership, co-hosted a conference on taking steps towards achieving beneficial ownership transparency. Titled Collective action for beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) in South Africa: From commitment to implementation, the two-day event, on 16 and Read more >

PRESS RELEASES

36 200+ whistle-blowers at centre of CW’s 10-year journey

The long journey of over 36 200 whistle-blowers in the fight against corruption in South Africa comes into focus in the 2021 edition of the Corruption Watch (CW) annual report, Pushing for change, as the organisation commemorates 10 years since its establishment in 2012. The past decade reveals a volatile experience for the brave whistle-blowers who Read more >

CORRUPTION NEWS

CW and other TI chapters urge FATF to move on beneficial ownership registers

Global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International (TI) has long been advocating for the establishment of a global standard for centralised, publicly accessible beneficial ownership registers – whose stored information has been verified. The organisation firmly believes such registers would allow everyone to see the true beneficiaries of anonymous companies, and help authorities, journalists and civil society Read more >

POLICY AND ADVOCACY

CW submits comments on the Companies Amendment Bill

Much of Corruption Watch’s (CW) work consists of advocating for transparency – in procurement, in leadership appointments, in allocating resources, in matters of governance. Corruption threatens the credibility and effectiveness of these measures and more, and therefore transparency is crucial to curbing, even abolishing the scourge.   Beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) is seen as an increasingly important element of any anti-corruption strategy, as it is fundamental in tackling illicit Read more >