Corrupt public officials hide their wealth abroad, as this is quite easy to do – but at the same time, bodies verifying asset declarations lack access to data abroad, writes Tilman Hoppe for the Global Anticorruption Blog. The new International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations can change all that – and, says Hoppe, states worldwide should embrace and ratify this treaty with haste.
The UK and its overseas territories and dependencies continue to be the world’s greatest facilitators of cross-border tax abuse, comprising six of the top 15 countries on the latest edition of the Corporate Tax Haven Index. Says the Tax Justice Network, which publishes the index: “Countries are estimated to lose $84-billion in corporate tax a year due to multinational corporations using the UK and its British tax havens to underpay tax.”
The judiciary, like other arms of government, is susceptible to corruption – but it must not be, if justice is to be administered fairly and democracy and human rights are to be protected. The highest level of vigilance, therefore, is required from members of the judiciary and all stakeholders to maintain its independence and ensure that its members do not engage in corrupt activities.
Corruption Watch’s newly launched Best Practice Guideline on Community Consultation in the South African Extractives Industry 2024 seeks to give guidance on community consultation requirements which must and should apply to mining projects, with reference to laws, policies, and international best practice. The guide was developed in partnership with Webber Wentzel.
The SIU’s Prasa probe reveals companies and directors who allegedly benefited from R3.5-billion train deal, while the NPA comes under fire for securing former Zondo commission lawyers as consultants, and new twist in “Amigos” case may open up new legal woes for implicated KZN ANC duo.
Mining activities can threaten to disrupt the lives and livelihoods of people living in affected communities. For this reason, writes Refilwe Chulu, it is vital that mining companies pay attention to their human rights obligations and ensure they conduct their operations in a sustainable and socially responsible way.
Corruption Watch welcomes the judgment handed down on 27 September 2024 by the full bench of the Western Cape High Court in the matter of Corruption Watch v Speaker of the National Assembly and others. The High Court granted the relief sought by the organisation by interdicting Dr John Hlophe from participating in the parliamentary Judicial Services Commission, concluding that a strong prima facie case had been made warranting this relief.
Corruption Watch, Freedom Under Law, and the DA have won a Western Cape High Court ruling interdicting Dr John Hlophe from serving on the upcoming round of the parliamentary Judicial Service Commission’s interviews for magistrates and judges. The applicants argued that the inclusion of Hlophe in the commission was irrational, following his impeachment by the very same Parliament earlier this year.
Corruption Watch and Webber Wentzel will launch their jointly developed Best Practice Guide on Community Consultation in the South African Extractives Industry at an in-person event and virtually on Thursday, 3 October 2024. The guide is part of Corruption Watch’s activities in the Rallying Efforts to Accelerate Progress in Africa Project.