For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Anti-corruption efforts stagnate in SA; Institute of Race Relations said despite growth, SA in ‘serious economic trouble’; And, US challenges Chinese control in race for African minerals

Anti-corruption efforts stagnate in SA

Non-profit organisation Corruption Watch today called for renewed political leadership on anti-corruption; the protection of civic spaces with an end to attacks on journalists, whistleblowers and non-governmental organisations; and the closure of secrecy loopholes that allow corrupt money to move across borders.

Anti-corruption movement Transparency International released its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting worsening corruption and a decline in global leadership.

CW executive director Lebogang Ramafoko noted that the picture in South Africa was discouraging, with little to no progress shown in the last three years.

She said South Africa’s anti-corruption efforts, as reflected in this year’s index, are still found wanting as the country stagnates with a score of 41, the same as in 2024, and still below the global average, despite a general decline globally for the first time in more than a decade to just 42 out of 100.

Denmark tops the overall scores on the index with a score of 89, followed by Finland with 88 and Singapore with 84.

However, encouragingly, she noted South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list last year.

Ramafoko also pointed to South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Summit, and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc committee investigating corruption allegations within the criminal justice system.

Institute of Race Relations said despite growth, SA in ‘serious economic trouble

The South African Institute of Race Relations said economic growth was anaemic, and the country had been stuck in a low-growth rut for over a decade.

Releasing its latest Blueprint for Growth paper, IRR CEO Dr John Endres explained that despite some improvements in sentiment, since the formation of the Government of National Unity, South Africa remained in “serious economic trouble”.

He called for the urgent expansion of capital inflows and foreign direct investment into South Africa, to start raising the growth rate and increasing fixed capital formation.

Endres averred that a new approach with sound policies and a commitment to clean and efficient governance was urgently required to trigger economic growth and turn the country around.

He said South Africa must build and maintain essential economic and social infrastructure to stimulate growth and provide a solid foundation for further economic expansion.

Endres said government must also translate increased growth into increased employment, while helping the disadvantaged climb the economic ladder to increase prosperity.

And, US challenges Chinese control in race for African minerals

The US is using offtake deals and state-backed funding to compete in the short term with China in securing supplies of African copper, cobalt and other critical minerals, diplomats, executives and analysts said ahead of this week's Indaba.

Washington's focus is on Zambia, Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter accounts for more than 70% of global cobalt supplies and produced some 3.3-million metric tons of copper in 2024.

Instead of placing US operators in high-risk countries, however, the US is leaning towards offtake and other trading structures such as one it has with Mercuria and arrangements it has with Congolese state miner Gécamines, to edge output into US-aligned value chains dominated by Chinese refiners.

Offtake is where a country or company secures rights to a share of a mine's output in exchange for financing or other support.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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