PRESS RELEASESConference: Collective action for beneficial ownership transparency in SA 12 May 2022, 11:19 Members of the media are invited to a two-day conference on beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) in South Africa, taking place in Cape Town on 16 -17 May 2022. The event is hosted by the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Financial Intelligence Centre, Open Government Partnership, Corruption Watch, and Open Ownership. The subject of Read more >
OPINIONS New company ownership regulation a step in right direction 06 May 2022, 9:06 By Mashudu Masutha and Karabo RajuiliFirst published on News24 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global standard-setting body for combating money laundering, setting minimum standards via 40 recommendations. It has sanctioning mechanisms for countries that fail to comply. Recently, the organisation updated its Recommendation 24, which deals with beneficial ownership transparency – and Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS The day Russian money didn’t freeze – despite international sanctions 07 Mar 2022, 16:08 By Ilya ShumanovFirst published on The Wilson Center Russia’s recognising the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, became a formal pretext for the collective West to impose restrictions on Russia in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The negative consequences of such a scenario had been discussed Read more >
PRESS RELEASES CW welcomes new global standard on beneficial ownership transparency 07 Mar 2022, 11:26 During formal meetings in Paris last week, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) approved a revision of its recommendation 24, ushering in a new global standard on beneficial ownership transparency. This is a win for the fight against corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes around the world. It is also a collective victory for Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS CW and other TI chapters urge FATF to move on beneficial ownership registers 22 Feb 2022, 11:57 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 >
OPINIONS Combating corruption is key to creating a sustainable path of future growth for SA 10 Dec 2021, 15:57 By Petrus Marais and Karam SinghFirst published on City Press Business success – and survival – relies largely on developing a strategy that takes into account various scenarios, considers mitigating factors, makes certain assumptions, spotlights threats and charts a course for the future. Three years ago very few C-suite executives factored in a global pandemic Read more >
POLICY AND ADVOCACY CW submits comments on the Companies Amendment Bill 07 Dec 2021, 17:27 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 >
CORRUPTION NEWS SA good on legal anti-money laundering framework, poor on implementation 23 Nov 2021, 14:10 In October the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released its mutual evaluation report on South Africa, following an assessment of the country’s anti-money laundering, counter financing of terrorism and counter financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (AML/CFT/CPF) systems. The mutual evaluation was conducted by a team led by the International Monetary Fund and including officials from the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group and FATF member countries. The team assessed compliance Read more >
CORRUPTION NEWS Financial crime more difficult with true owner transparency 10 Nov 2021, 15:43 Our new mini-series shines the spotlight on the current Financial Action Task Force (FATF) beneficial ownership review process. Part 1 presented the particular issues the organisation has recently sought input on, part 2 examined the five recommendations submitted by Transparency International as a response to the FATF invitation, part 3 looked at the FATF draft amendments in response to the call for Read more >