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.