In part one of our mini-series focusing mainly on plant trafficking, we look at the seriousness of the problem, which affects South Africa too, and the role that social media plays in enabling it. In part two we discuss the methods used by traffickers, and the international response to this growing crime.
The Financial Action Task Force has deemed South Africa to have addressed or largely addressed 20 of the 22 action items in its plan for exiting the organisation’s grey list, said the National Treasury in a statement released on Friday 21 February. This means that there are just two items to be addressed in the next reporting period that runs from March 2025 to June 2025. “This would enable South Africa to be considered for delisting from the grey list in October 2025.”
The Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money laundering watchdog, is currently holding its annual February plenary in Paris and is expected to make a positive statement on South Africa’s grey list status. Accordingly, the country’s Companies and Intellectual Property Commission appeared before the parliamentary committee for Trade, Industry and Competition on 19 February to brief members on progress towards getting off the grey list, as far as its own contribution is concerned.
Are you an engaged citizen in 2025, asks Advocate Paul Hoffman in this article for Daily Maverick. Do you participate in or contribute to democracy-supporting activities that will help to counter corruption? South Africa needs active citizens – read on to establish your status.
Transparency International’s secretariat and US chapter have both issued strong statements criticising President Donald Trump’s suspension of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, saying that it will empower and embolden criminals. The two organisations refute Trump’s claim that foreign bribery is a ‘routine’ business practice.
Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, released today, reflects the sad reality of stagnating anti-corruption efforts in South Africa. With a score of 41, the same as last year, the country remains stubbornly below the global average of 43, having dropped by three points since 2019.
Transparency International, who releases its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index on 11 February, says countries should not use their scores to cover up declines in democracy. Some countries use their score on the index to create a distorted narrative around their anti-corruption activities, says the organisation, when in reality they are committing human rights violations and other atrocities.
A group of prominent civil society organisations, all working in the human rights space in South Africa, have issued a statement decrying US president Donald Trump’s puzzling pronouncements on perceived happenings in the country. These include “confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly” – which the organisations have refuted in emphatic terms.
Global anti-corruption movement Transparency International releases its annual Corruption Perceptions Index on Tuesday, 11 February. This edition focuses on how corruption is undermining climate action around the world, showing how the countries most in need of climate finance are facing governance and corruption challenges.