The 15th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa is taking place in Cape Town from May 5 to May 9, 2025. This conference unites leaders from 21 African nations to develop actionable strategies under the theme: “Enhancing Inclusive Participation of State and Non-State Actors to Prevent and Combat Corruption.” The conference was officially opened by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa, Ms. Mmamoloko Kubayi, on Monday morning.
“Corruption can destroy institutions within a country so that it becomes very costly for citizens to attain services that they are entitled to as citizens. Corruption undermines business confidence and chases away investment, placing the country in a perpetual low-growth trajectory and ending up in economic crisis,” said Minister Kubayi.
Minister Kubayi further encouraged deliberations on the prevention of corruption.
“If not prevented and combated, corruption can become a window through which organised crime organisations entrench themselves within a country and its institutions. As we all know, organised criminal organisations, especially international drug dealers, have the funds to corrupt many players, including and especially in governments, and even to “capture” weak states,” said Minister Kubayi.
The conference is convened under the banner of the Association of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, a collaborative network comprising anti-corruption bodies from 21 African countries: Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. The Special Investigating Unit is hosting the Conference on behalf of South Africa.
“To borrow from former President Thabo Mbeki’s philosophy, African problems require African solutions. This conference presents a vital opportunity for African states to unite in the fight against corruption. It allows us to share resources, exchange experiences, and build collective strength. More importantly, as technology evolves, so do the methods used to facilitate illicit financial flows across borders. We must come together to nip this in the bud, and beat criminals at their game,” says Head of the SIU, Adv Andy Mothibi.
The conference will deliver tangible outcomes to strengthen anti-corruption efforts across the African continent, including:
- Innovative Strategies – Sharing cutting-edge tools and frameworks to detect, investigate, and prosecute corruption.
- SDG 16 Acceleration – Aligning anti-corruption measures with Sustainable Development Goal 16 to promote transparency and accountability.
- Public-Private Collaboration – Enhancing partnerships between governments, civil society, and businesses to close loopholes in governance systems.
- Capacity Building – Equipping anti-corruption agencies with best practices from global experts and peer institutions.
- Regional Cooperation – Strengthening cross-border collaboration through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and joint initiatives.
Corruption undermines economic growth, exacerbates poverty, and erodes public trust. This conference will foster practical, inclusive solutions to safeguard development gains and ensure integrity across institutions.
Enquiries:
Kaizer Kganyago
Spokesperson: Special Investigating Unit
082 306 8888
Kkganyago@siu.org.za