Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi will from today host the first G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) in Cape Town.

The ACWG ends on Wednesday.

The Department of Public Service and Administration, in collaboration with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Department of International Relations (DIRCO), is at the forefront of South Africa’s efforts to combat corruption.

The ACWG’s work is guided by the St Petersburg Strategic Framework of 2013 and the G20 ACWG Action Plan for 2025-2027, aligning with the priorities of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

As South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency in December 2024, a series of important events led by the ACWG are planned throughout the year. 

Co-chaired by South Africa and Brazil, the ACWG will focus on four key priorities:

• Strengthening the Public Sector: Promoting good practices for transparency and accountability, culminating in a Ministerial Declaration.
• Increasing efficiency of asset recovery measures: Discussions will centre on high-level principles for managing seized assets, with technical assistance from global partners.
• Enhancing inclusive participation: Mobilising the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia to combat corruption collaboratively and share best practices through dedicated side events.
• Enhancing whistle-blower protection: Reinforcing commitments to safeguarding whistle-blowers with accountability reports and specific side events focused on effective protection mechanisms.

The agenda for the first ACWG Technical Meeting, to be held from 3 to 5 March 2025 –  includes sessions dedicated to increasing the efficiency of asset recovery measures, enhancing whistleblower protection mechanisms and fostering inclusive participation among diverse stakeholders. 

Sessions will also receive updates on upcoming anti-corruption events, including the financing for development agenda and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of State Parties (CoSP 11).