Keypoints:
- AfDB and SIU sign anti-corruption pact
- Focus on asset recovery, training, and governance
- Whistleblower protection identified as key priority
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) and South Africa’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in the fight against corruption, with a strong focus on asset recovery, training, and whistleblower protection.
The agreement was signed on July 3, 2025, at the SIU headquarters in Pretoria, in a ceremony attended by senior staff from both institutions. Representing the AfDB’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) was its director, Paula Santos Da-Costa, while the SIU was led by Advocate Andy Mothibi.
Focus on integrity and accountability
According to the AfDB, the MoU sets out key areas of cooperation, including technical assistance, research, capacity building, and the development of training programmes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Santos Da-Costa described the agreement as an opportunity to ensure that public resources are safeguarded and directed towards development priorities. She highlighted the SIU’s progress in asset recovery, noting that lessons from South Africa could help improve the AfDB’s own integrity initiatives.
She also pointed to the AfDB’s ongoing work on project integrity reviews across its regional member countries, saying these reviews had already shown positive results in protecting infrastructure investments. ‘This prevention approach has the potential to significantly enhance the integrity of projects on the continent and offers immediate opportunities for collaboration,’ she said.
South Africa’s G20 presidency adds weight
Advocate Mothibi welcomed the partnership, stressing the importance of turning the MoU into practical workplans that would yield results. He noted that the agreement comes as South Africa chairs the G20 governance framework in 2025, a role that places integrity and accountability firmly on the international agenda.
‘This partnership arrives at a crucial moment, offering both institutions a chance to engage on public integrity, asset recovery, border management, immigration, and even the health sector,’ he said.
Both leaders underlined the importance of strengthening whistleblower protection, which they identified as an essential step in sustaining the fight against corruption.
Building continental momentum
The AfDB said the agreement reflects its broader mandate of promoting good governance and ensuring that financing for African projects is managed responsibly. For the SIU, the MoU offers a platform to share expertise while reinforcing its domestic mandate.
The partnership, both sides agreed, will not only serve national and regional efforts but also contribute to global governance discussions taking place under South Africa’s G20 presidency.
