State capture-accused Bain sanctioned in UK – now for SA?

International consultancy firm Bain & Company has been banned from doing business with the UK government for three years, owing to its part in state capture in South Africa between 2015 and 2018. The ban will apply retrospectively from January this year. In evidence heard by the state capture commission last year, Bain’s former South Africa Read more >

New CW report on trends in procurement deviations, expansions, and debarment

Image: UN Environment Programme In October 2021 Corruption Watch (CW), working with procurement law expert Prof Geo Quinot of Stellenbosch University, released its first report that analyses procurement information drawn from National Treasury (NT) data captured between 2016 and 2020. The analysis was made possible by CW’s online tool, Procurement Watch (PW), which was launched at the Read more >

CSOs condemn recent threats by govt officials, call for accountability

Dear Mr President, The ongoing attacks on civil society organisations by government officials are concerning and must receive urgent attention. These attacks are unacceptable, go against our country’s Constitution, and undermine our democracy. This week, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) announced that they are temporarily closing their offices after Councillor Nkululeko Mbundu, Read more >

A global asset registry will boost equality and fight lawless wealth

Anonymous private wealth. Luxurious homes, state-of-the-art yachts and aircraft, priceless jewellery, valuable pieces of art, and more. Symbols of an ever-increasing global problem of financial inequality, and a proven driver also of corruption and tax abuse. Such wealth in the hands of a mere fraction of the global population is unsustainable – and as long Read more >

Counter-Corruption Summit addresses weaknesses in procurement

The Counter-Corruption Summit, happening today in Stellenbosch, brings together academia, government, civil society, international organisations, and business to continue to galvanise momentum, confirm broad-based support for those leading counter-corruption efforts, and create a shared platform for eradicating endemic corruption in our society. This type of gathering, like the beneficial ownership transparency conference held in Cape Read more >

Zondo to ANC: no renewal unless you put country first

The state capture commission has found that the ANC played a major role in state capture in the country, having not taken action when allegations of an improper relationship between its former president Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family surfaced. The final instalment of the report of the commission was handed over to President Cyril Read more >

South Africa second globally in 2021 Open Budget Index

South Africa has come second in budget transparency globally, with Georgia overtaking both South Africa and New Zealand to claim the first spot in the 2021 Open Budget Index (OBI), conducted among 120 countries by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) through an open budget survey. IBP is the world’s only independent, comparative measure of budget Read more >

SIU marks 25 years, vows to continue striking against corruption

Image: Department of Justice On 14 July 2022 the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) marked its silver jubilee with a new logo, a comprehensive retrospective look at its first quarter century, and a celebratory event. Arising out of the findings of the 1995 Heath Commission into fraud, corruption, and maladministration, the establishment of the SIU was Read more >