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African expertise takes centre stage at crypto and asset recovery workshop
Around 40 public-sector practitioners gathered in Luxembourg on 17 September 2026 for the Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Workshop. The event put African experience, innovation and talent at the heart of discussions on cryptoasset investigations and asset recovery. Held as a side event to the 10th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets, the workshop brought together specialists from financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, prosecution authorities, regulators and asset recovery bodies. Participants represented more than 15 African countries. The Basel Institute on Governance co-organised the workshop with the SecFin Africa. It was hosted by Luxembourg’s Bureau de gestion des avoirs. Learning from African experience The workshop was designed around peer learning. Practitioners from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and South Africa presented real cases to their regional peers. They spoke openly about the obstacles they had encountered and the practical approaches they had developed to overcome them. The workshop took place under the Chatham House rule. Participation was restricted to public-sector officials to provide a safe space for candid discussion, questions and learning. This practitioner-led approach is central to the Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Network. The Network recognises that valuable expertise and creative solutions already exist across the continent. Its role is to help practitioners share this knowledge, learn from one another and build trusted relationships across institutions and borders. As H.E. Ambassador Mary Chirwa, Ambassador of Zambia to the Benelux countries, said in her closing remarks at the main conference: I can speak for Africa: it may not have the same resources as other regions, but it has large, young and technologically astute populations – quick to embrace new technologies, question established approaches and find imaginative solutions. Practical tools and international cooperation The workshop also introduced practical tools that can support investigations and asset recovery. - Alexandru Donciu, Virtual Assets Specialist at the Basel Institute, demonstrated free and open-source tools for conducting on-chain investigations. - A representative of the French Gendarmerie and France’s Agency for the Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets AGRASC presented ASAC. The application guides magistrates and investigators through procedures for tracing, seizing and confiscating criminal assets. - A Europol representative illuminated the work and approach of the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and its collaborations with global law enforcement partners. The contributions from international partners highlighted the importance of connecting strong regional networks across continents. Cryptoassets move globally and effective investigations depend on cooperation that does the same. Connections that last beyond Luxembourg Many of the participants also attended the main Global Conference on 15–16 September. This gave the large African delegation opportunities to exchange experience with hundreds of peers from law enforcement, policymaking, research and the private sector. These face-to-face connections matter. They build the trust that makes it easier to pick up the phone when an urgent cross-border case arises. Our sincere thanks go to SecFin Africa and to the workshop’s co-moderators, Philippe Pacaud, Operational Coordinator at SecFin Africa, and Simon Marsh, Head of Africa at the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery. SecFin Africa is funded by the European Union, France and Germany. We also gratefully acknowledge the organisations supporting the Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Network: Kodex, Asset Reality, Tradias, VerifyVASP, Coinbase, TRM Labs, CAT Labs and iSanctuary. Their support helps make this public-sector community and its activities possible while preserving a trusted and product-free space for practitioner exchange. The enthusiasm in Luxembourg also raised an exciting possibility: a dedicated Africa Crypto & Asset Recovery Conference in 2027. Watch this space.
Zambia convicts former foreign minister in "helicopter corruption trial" with international support
Warm congratulations to our partners at the Drug Enforcement Commission and National Prosecution Authority of Zambia for a successful outcome in a high-profile corruption case involving Zambia’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs. Former Minister Joseph Malanji was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on 4 September 2025, having been convicted of seven out of eight counts of corruption. The offences include the misappropriation of funds designated for one of Zambia's overseas diplomatic missions and the acquisition of two helicopters with illicitly obtained funds. Former Treasury Secretary Fredson Yamba also received a three-year sentence in the same case, which involved the irregular transfer of K108 million around USD 4.5 million from the public treasury. The multinational investigation involved close cooperation with agencies in several jurisdictions, including the Asset Forfeiture Unit of South Africa, which moved swiftly to identify and freeze one of the helicopters. Assistance from the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery ICAR and Stolen Asset Recovery StAR Initiative also proved vital. Gilbert Phiri, Zambia’s Director of Public Prosecutions said: The conviction of the former Minister, in this instance, demonstrates that Zambia is serious about fighting grand corruption and holding those responsible for misappropriating resources for their own benefit, to account. We are grateful to our international counterparts for their essential cooperation in the recovery of the proceeds and to our partners in ICAR and StAR for their support. Training and case assistance The Basel Institute has been working with the Zambian authorities since 2021, through specialist ICAR advisors embedded with partner agencies. The advisors provide technical assistance on complex financial crime cases, including through training and case-based support. The programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which is also a core donor to ICAR. Commenting on the success, ICAR Director Iker Lekuona said: Our training is carefully tailored to the laws and procedures of the countries in which it is delivered and focuses on a follow-the-money approach. This is complemented by our case support team who work hand in glove with investigators and prosecutors to achieve results like these. I am delighted to see the fruits of these efforts, which we hope will deter further corruption and increase citizen trust in government. GFAR Action Series in action Zambia has also benefited from being a focus country of the Global Forum on Asset Recovery GFAR Action Series for the last two years. This is a platform for asset recovery practitioners to make progress on priority cases through direct engagement and meetings. ICAR partners closely with the Stolen Asset Recovery StAR Initiative and International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre IACCC in the initiative. Emile van der Does, Coordinator of the StAR Initiative, said: This confiscation through the GFAR Action Series shows the power of cross-border cooperation. Congratulations to Zambia, South Africa and ICAR for their leadership in returning assets and reinforcing accountability. The StAR Initiative is delighted that the GFAR Action Series platform could help facilitate this outcome. South Africa: rapid asset seizures Adv. Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba, Head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit of South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, said: I think this is going to strengthen anti-corruption in Southern Africa. We need to have both convictions but also the recovery of illicitly acquired assets. Our cooperation demonstrates that South Africa is no haven for the proceeds of crime and that the Asset Forfeiture Unit will use all powers at its disposal to recover those proceeds, no matter how senior the culprits might be. This is evidence of the rule of law in action and we are committed to working hand in hand with our international partners in this endeavour. Learn more Article in the Lusaka Times : Malanji Convicted in Helicopter and Property Corruption Case About the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery ICAR About the Stolen Asset Recovery StAR Initiative of the World Bank and UNODC and the Global Forum on Asset Recovery GFAR Action Series.
Southern Africa’s fight against corruption needs Collective Action
A high-level meeting of heads of anti-corruption agencies in the Southern African Development Community SADC last month was a chance to take stock of member countries’ efforts to tackle corruption. The meeting allowed for a reflection on many ongoing activities and discussions around Collective Action in the region this year. It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on how to galvanise joint efforts against the region’s biggest scourge. Speaking to delegates, Scarlet Wannenwetsch, Collective Action Specialist, highlighted the underused capacity of the private sector. Businesses are full of dynamism and talent, both of which are critical in fighting corruption and other transnational crimes. To harness the private sector’s potential, she emphasised the importance of building trust by fostering regional multi-stakeholder networks. Bringing together anti-corruption champions from the public sector, private sector and civil society helps to create “good” networks – ones powerful enough to fight the corrupt networks that are holding back development in the region. Appetite for engagement The Basel Institute has been a long-standing partner of the SADC Secretariat through the work of the Private Sector team. Our team has been impressed by the level of innovation in the region. Some feature in a publication capturing good practices that was created by, with and for anti-corruption agencies in Africa. We have also been training SADC corruption prevention officers on how to engage with the private sector through Collective Action approaches. Our partners consistently express a desire for more opportunities to engage and exchange with other stakeholders. They realise that no one group can tackle corruption alone. Working towards building a community of practice To sow the seeds for such a regional multi-stakeholder network, we launched the first Southern African Anti-Corruption Collective Action Forum earlier this year in collaboration with the Southern African Anti-Corruption Network SAACoN and The Ethics Institute. The event brought together participants from the private sector, civil society and government institutions to discuss concrete opportunities for learning and collaboration. For many, it was the first time they had met at the regional level. The event was also a chance to celebrate progress. CoST Uganda won our Southern Africa Anti-Corruption Collective Action Award for its outstanding achievements in tackling corruption and raising business integrity in the region. What’s next? In order to build on the momentum of the Forum and on the energy of the SADC region’s anti-corruption leaders, it is crucial that member states continue to prioritise collaboration and Collective Action. Government anti-corruption agencies needs close, sustained collaboration with the private sector and civil society if they want to develop a more inclusive strategy to prevent corruption – and if they want that strategy to actually work in practice. That applies not only at the country and sector level, but at the regional level too. And that’s what Collective Action can bring. We look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and wider partners to support anti-corruption Collective Action in the region. Learn more about our work on the B20 Collective Action Hub and find inspiration in its global database of initiatives.
Community of practice emerges from Southern Africa Anti-Corruption Collective Action Forum
Across Southern Africa, leaders from the business community, civil society and government are coming together to strengthen business integrity and thus catalyse the region's huge economic potential. That groundswell of multi-stakeholder action – anti-corruption Collective Action – was on display on 31 May at the Southern Africa Anti-Corruption Collective Action Forum. The Forum marks the emergence of a regional community of practice that will sustain and multiply the efforts of the 66 inspiring professionals present. Held in Johannesburg, South Africa, the one-day Forum was organised by the Basel Institute on Governance together with The Ethics Institute and Southern African Anti-Corruption Network SAACoN . This event was held with the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative. Joint action against corruption Among the participants were representatives of businesses and industry associations; governments, including anti-corruption agencies and offices of the ombudsman; and civil society organisations. Highlights included: A provocative panel on how institutions like the stock exchange can improve corporate governance in a country. A group reflection on the challenges that anti-corruption Collective Action initiatives encounter in Southern Africa and ways to overcome them. Whistleblowing in the private and public sectors and changing the culture to one of “speaking up” about corruption. Breakout sessions on new training or reporting tools and certification opportunities. A keynote speech by Mosilo Mothepu, a former CEO at Trillian Financial Advisory who blew the whistle on state capture. Her speech, like her book Uncaptured , emphasised the challenges of facing endemic corruption and the need to stand together. The participants had a preview of the Basel Institute’s new, free Collective Action online training course. Soon to be launched on our virtual learning platform Basel LEARN, the course takes users through the fundamentals of setting up an anti-corruption Collective Action initiative. CoST Uganda wins Collective Action Award CoST Uganda – the Ugandan arm of the global Infrastructure Transparency Initiative – was presented with a prestigious Anti-Corruption Collective Action Award for its outstanding achievements in tackling corruption and raising standards of business integrity in the region. Gilbert Sendugwa, CoST Senior Regional Manager for Africa, commented: This Award is not just for CoST Uganda but for the government, private sector and civil society partners that have worked together to increase disclosure and undertake assurance processes to give meaning to disclosed data, and more importantly the government’s commitment to implement recommended reforms. This Award inspires us to continue on this path. The other two finalists – the Fisheries Transparency Initiative and MozUp Enterprise Development Center – were also praised for their untiring efforts to bring business, government and civil society together to address specific corruption challenges in the fisheries sector and among Mozambican small businesses. Coming up View recordings of the panels in this YouTube playlist. View the forum summary. The regional gathering of anti-corruption leaders builds on the success of the International Collective Action Conference series hosted by the Basel Institute on Governance in Switzerland between 2014–2022. Further regional forums will take place in Southeast Asia in late 2023 and in Latin America next year. See the Basel Institute’s B20 Collective Action Hub for more information on upcoming events and Collective Action generally, and follow our Collective Action-focused newsletter, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.
New Green Corruption case study: Hout Bay and the illegal lobster trade – recovering illicit proceeds of IUU fishing and wildlife trafficking
We have just released a detailed case study on the prosecution of a South African fishing company, Hout Bay Fishing Industries, and efforts to recover the company's illicit assets. Published under our Green Corruption programme, the case study is authored by Advocate Caroline Dutot of Ardent Chambers, Jersey, with contributions from Howard Sharp, QC. The company was accused of overfishing lobster and other protected fish in deliberate breach of government-established quotas, leading to what environmental experts claimed was a free fall in lobster numbers. Until the criminal investigation commenced, large quantities of illegally caught lobster and fish were exported from South Arica to the USA, generating vast profits for the company that were stashed in complex offshore legal structures. The case study contains numerous important lessons for those seeking to follow the money in large wildlife trafficking or related cases of environmental crime. Read it here: Hout Bay and the illegal lobster trade: a case study in recovering illicit proceeds of IUU fishing and wildlife trafficking .
Publications
Engaging the private sector in Collective Action against corruption: A practical guide for anti-corruption agencies in Africa
This guidance seeks to capture and explore the innovative approaches that African governments have developed to address the demand and supply sides of corruption more effectively and sustainably. It is designed to help government institutions, in particular national anti-corruption agencies, engage with the private sector more effectively to prevent corruption.
The document highlights good practices identified through interviews, desk research and a 2021 Southern African Development Community (SADC) training on “Emerging anti-corruption issues and private-sector engagement for SADC anti-corruption agencies”.
Africa offers many examples of innovative, unique and context-sensitive approaches to engage the private sector in anti-corruption efforts. Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan, for instance, offers an award scheme and is looking into providing tax benefits to companies that enforce anti-corruption measures and demonstrate leadership in the fight against corruption. Other agencies and governments in the region, such as Morocco, are currently discussing implementing a reward system for compliant companies that can be considered when companies bid for public tenders.
These examples demonstrate how African governments proactively seek to tackle corruption and collaborate with the private sector.
From the initiatives captured, three common strategic approaches can be identified to underpin effective and impactful engagement:
- Raising awareness, guiding and working with the private sector to more effectively address corruption risks.
- Identifying and providing incentives to companies investing in their compliance programmes.
- Demonstrating leadership by actively participating in Collective Action and public-private partnerships.
This document is a follow-up of a practical global guide published in July 2022 and was produced with the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative.
It is freely shareable under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence. Please credit the Basel Institute on Governance.
Case Study 6: Hout Bay and the illegal lobster trade: a case study in recovering illicit proceeds of IUU fishing and wildlife trafficking
Published under our Green Corruption programme, this is a case study about a South African fishing company, Hout Bay Fishing Industries, that overfished lobster and other protected fish in deliberate breach of government-established quotas. The case study contains numerous important lessons for those seeking to follow the money in large wildlife trafficking cases.
The extent of unlawful overfishing was such that environmental experts have claimed that lobster numbers in South Africa were in free fall and that the terminal decline was only halted when a criminal investigation commenced, thereby bringing the illicit activities to an abrupt halt. Until then, large quantities of illegally caught lobster and fish in South Africa were exported to the USA and there sold for vast profit.
Despite successful prosecutions in both South Africa (of the fishing company) and the USA (of the principals of the fishing company), there were significant forensic difficulties in tracing profits that were placed in complex offshore trust and company structures. The result was that although there is some evidence that the profits from this enterprise were at least USD 60 million, the total sums recovered by confiscation orders were around USD 20 million.
Permissions and citation
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please cite Dutot, Caroline. 2021. Hout Bay and the illegal lobster trade: a case study in recovering illicit proceeds of IUU fishing and wildlife trafficking. Basel Institute on Governance (Green Corruption Case Study 01), www.baselgovernance.org/publications/GC1
Study on Anti-Corruption Architecture of the Republic of South Africa
The Basel Institute on Governance participated in several workshops between 8 and 9 October 2012 with key stakeholders of the South African anti-corruption system (Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority, Special Investigating Unit, Department of Public Service Administration, South African Revenue Services, National Treasury, Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations of the South African Police Services) at a special session hosted by the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT).
The purpose of these workshops was to present the findings and recommendations of the report produced by the Legal and Case Consultancy Team of the Institute with regards to the South African anti-corruption architecture. The study had been commissioned by GIZ South Africa, with the purpose of providing, among others, an overview of the requirements for the anti-corruption architecture of South Africa and elaborating on the international discourse on the concept of independence of anti-corruption bodies. The study further provided a comparable case studies with five different jurisdictions.
During these two days in Pretoria, South Africa, the Legal and Case Consultancy team also had the opportunity to meet with prosecutors and financial investigators to discuss, at an operational level, the asset recovery process in the country. Finally, the Legal and Case Consultancy Team also had the opportunity to meet with the Executive Committee of the Special Investigating Unit to further discuss in detail the findings and recommendations of the report, with a view to assisting the South African Authorities in establishing a cohesive anti-corruption strategy for the country.