19 June 2007
South Africa will today take up her seat as a member of the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery in
International Business Transactions. South Africa is the first African country
to accede to the OECD's Convention on the Bribery of Foreign Public Officials
in International Business Transactions and the OECD Working Group on Bribery in
International Business Transactions.
South Africa is now party to and active member of all the regional and
international anti-corruption instruments. These include the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Corruption, the African Union
Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Corruption as well as the United
Nations Convention against Corruption. The accession to the OECD anti-bribery
instruments thus enables South Africa to pursue the anti-corruption and good
governance agenda in the available multilateral mechanisms of the world. This
drive is underpinned by the national priorities of fighting corruption,
discharging our international obligations and creation of 'A Better Africa for
A Better World.' South Africa will continue to advance its anti-corruption
agenda at national and global levels and will continue its leadership in this
area that was displayed during the recent hosting of the 2nd Pan African
Meeting of National Anti-corruption Bodies, the Africa Forum on Fighting
Corruption and the 5th Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding
Integrity.
The OECD anti-bribery instruments focus exclusively on prohibiting the
bribery of foreign officials in international business transactions. In terms
of a practical example, it prohibits a foreign multinational from bribing a
South African official to obtain a contract or permit. Similarly, a South
African business person that bribes a public official in another country to
obtain a contract will be guilty of a crime in South Africa. The bribery of
foreign officials in international business transactions is expressly
criminalised in the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of
2004.
As an active member of the OECD South Africa can gain much from the
collective experience and knowledge within the OECD Working Group and that the
veracity of the interaction within the Working Group will assist us to
continuously improve our ability to improve our national integrity system in
general and fight bribery in particular. As a member of the OECD Working Group
we will have improved access and use of the OECD's technical and knowledge
resources. At the same time we also can contribute towards the collective
experience, knowledge and common understanding on the fight against corruption
through sharing the South African experience amongst members.
On Tuesday, 19 June 2007 the South African Ambassador to France and the OECD
will, on behalf of Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Minister for the Public
Service and Administration, formally hand the documents of accession over to
the Secretary-General of the OECD during a press conference at the OECD
headquarters in Paris, France.
Enquiries:
Lewis Rabkin
Cell: 082 497 3220
Issued by: Ministry of Public Service and Administration
19 June 2007
