The seventh Annual Regional Binding Treaty Indaba recently concluded in Johannesburg, bringing together mining-affected communities, civil society groups, African state representatives, academics, and national human rights institutions. The focus of the event was the need for a binding international treaty that sets human rights standards, provides robust remedial mechanisms, and ends corporate impunity, especially in the extractives sector.
After more than two years of intensive work to improve its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework, the weaknesses of which earned it a spot on the FATF grey list, South Africa stands on the brink of being delisted. After its June plenary, the FATF announced that the country had substantially completed its action plan and will shortly undergo an on-site assessment which, if favourable, will see it removed from the grey list in October.
Youth Month: a look at Indonesia’s example of youth pushing for accountability, from the perspective of an anti-corruption researcher.
GroundUp reports that the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has finally started a review of the social grants payment system, hoping to fix long-running problems that have affected the lives of millions of beneficiaries. The process is expected to run until December, but activists are urging the department to prioritise the matter.
Corruption is an enabler of wildlife crime, and can occur at any stage along the illegal trade chain. With the involvement of organised crime syndicates, law enforcement agencies’ task is made that much more difficult. A glimmer of hope was revealed recently by the Wildlife Justice Commission, which reported that in the years since the Covid-19 lockdown lifted, trafficking in elephant ivory and pangolin scales remains at a fraction of the pre-Covid volumes.
This year’s Financial Secrecy Index, released on 3 June by the Tax Justice Network, shows that nine of the top 10 countries are seeing worsening conditions for democracy. The US again tops the list of 141 countries, contributing nearly 6% of the world’s financial secrecy, while the EU as a bloc accounts for 21%.
Corruption Watch welcomes the judgment handed down yesterday, 2 June 2025, by the Western Cape High Court in the matter of the designation of Dr John Hlophe to the Judicial Services Commission. The court declared that Hlophe, an impeached former judge president of that same court, was not fit and suitable to serve on a body that safeguards the integrity and independence of the judiciary, and set his appointment aside.
The Western Cape High Court ruled on 2 June 2025 that the impeached former judge president of that same court – now MP for the Mkhonto weSizwe Party – Dr John Hlophe, will not be part of the Judicial Services Commission. The court handed down a judgment that invalidated Parliament’s decision to designate Hlophe to the body, saying the appointment was unconstitutional and setting it aside. Hlophe’s party intends to appeal the judgment.
The Department of Public Service and Administration appeared before Parliament this week to brief the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on steps it is taking to clean up the pervasive problem of ghost workers on the government payroll. The department will work with National Treasury in this endeavour, and will continue to guide departments and government entities to improve public service ethics and integrity, and fight corruption.