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The co-chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence Malusi Gigaba and Phiroane Phala stated that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a diplomatic tool for peacebuilding on the continent will continue with support from the committee.

The co-chairpersons were speaking during the handing over ceremony of the bodies of the SANDF soldiers who lost their lives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The soldiers were part of a multinational Southern African Development Community (SADC) force deployed to stabilise the region amid ongoing clashes between the DRC military and M23 rebels.

Gigaba reiterated that participation in peacekeeping missions was an obligation that could not be abandoned.

"South Africa, as part of the African Union (AU), subscribes to the AU's Agenda 2063, which aims to silence the guns and provide a framework of diplomacy, conflict resolution and sustainable development to ensure peace on our continent," he explained.

The remains of the fallen soldiers arrived in the country on Thursday, with Phala saying the committee appreciated the work done by the department, UN, SADC and the SANDF to repatriate the soldiers back home for their final burial.

"The committee has always believed that while the process is complex, everything should be done to return the remains to the country. We remain grateful that this has finally happened despite the delays," he stated.

Gigaba noted that in the spirit of ubuntu and cooperation, the committee appreciated Uganda's contribution to facilitating the transfer of the soldiers' remains from the DRC to South Africa.

"The spirit of cooperation is what is needed currently to enable dialogue, which will be critical in finding solutions to the longstanding instability in the DRC," he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the handover of the soldiers' remains was solemn occasion that was a reminder of the great cost of building peace, often paid in the lives of the country's finest.

"…and yet peace is an ideal for which we will forever strive.

"As a troop-contributing country to the SADC Mission in the DRC and the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa remains firmly committed to supporting all processes to bring this terrible conflict to an end," he said.

He added that the country was encouraged by the outcomes of last week's joint summit of the East African Community and SADC, which resolved to prioritise a political solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC.

As President, Ramaphosa reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire, for a cessation of hostilities and for all the warring parties to resume inclusive negotiations.

"As Africans, we are one people. When one part of Africa bleeds, we feel its pain. The Congolese people cry out for protection, for an end to war and for dignity. The gallant soldiers we receive home today answered that call," he said.

He explained that the fallen SANDF members' work in the DRC, was not just about maintaining order, but also about building bridges, fostering understanding and creating pathways to lasting peace.

"We will not weaken in our resolve to realise the vision of an Africa free from war and conflict; an Africa free of poverty and underdevelopment; and an Africa at peace with itself and the world," he said.

Ramaphosa said the achievement of this vision was the most fitting tribute the country could pay to the fallen heroes.

Meanwhile, the Joint Standing Committee on Defence highlighted that while it believes a thorough investigation is necessary to understand the circumstances surrounding the death of SANDF members in DRC and prevent its recurrence, the continued use of diplomatic tools remains necessary to advance the strategic goals of peace, security, and prosperity.

"The return of the mortal remains of the soldiers is a realisation of the promise made by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the SANDF to the commit...

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane assures that the State-owned utility is applying the same effort to end years of governance and accountability failings, as it did to end loadshedding.

This came amid the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on investigations into Eskom, where it revealed that employees had swindled the utility out of over R1-billion by manipulating procurement processes.

In a statement on Friday, Eskom expressed its commitment to root out corruption and strengthen its governance framework, and said it was partnering with the SIU and other law enforcement agencies to hold those involved in corruption accountable, to recover financial losses, and strengthen governance processes.

The SIU recommended that a system be developed to red flag transactions approved by high-risk officials on the payment system or to red flag payments made to high-risk suppliers and contractors.

The SIU urged Eskom to consider implementing contractual terms that allowed for access to personal information of an employee, warning that a thorough vetting of officials entering Eskom was not enough.

Eskom board chairperson Mteto Nyati committed to use public money efficiently through the strengthening of governance and management controls by appointing "the right people to the right roles", in the utility's attempt to foster an ethical and high-performance culture and consequence management.

Marokane said Eskom had in place a new, "strengthened executive team that has the appropriate skills and leadership" to ensure adherence to internal controls, risk management and the Public Finance Management Act.

A dedicated Project Management Office has also been created to analyse data-driven findings, oversee internal and external investigations, and clear the backlog of cases in coordination with law enforcement agencies.

Nyati pointed out that Eskom's partnership with the SIU, and the various organs of State under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure Energy Safety & Security Priority Committee, was crucial to ensure that all forms of criminality that impacted Eskom's ability to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate, were dealt with decisively.

"As part of its drive to enhance governance and combat corruption, Eskom has restructured its forensic, security, and investigative functions under the newly established Group Investigations and Security division, which now reports directly to the Group Chief Executive," he explained.

"A resourcing drive to adequately capacitate the finance, internal audit and forensics functions to address key skills lost over the years has now commenced," he added.

The utility said it would continue providing support and the necessary information to ensure that all pending cases were resolved promptly.

"As investigations continue across Eskom and its related suppliers, we anticipate further corruption revelations and arrests. Eskom will continue to focus on implementing generation recovery, strengthening governance, and tackling crime and corruption while future-proofing the organisation to enable energy security, growth, and long-term sustainability to the benefit of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa," it explained.

uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has apologised again, this time directly to the party's secretary-general Floyd Shivambu, saying it was never her intention to undermine the party's principles of unity, respect and discipline.

This after she took to X earlier this week to post what the party termed "insulting posts" directed at Shivambu, and which the party said constituted a direct violation of the party's disciplinary code of conduct.

"To the Secretary-General of uMkhonto weSizwe Party, my comrade, Floyd Shivambu, President Jacob Zuma, party members, supporters, and the people of South Africa; I sincerely apologise for my recent public posts on X, which have caused offense, division, and disruption within the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and beyond. It was never my intention to undermine the principles of unity, respect, and discipline that are the foundation of our movement," she said on Friday.

Earlier this week, Zuma had directed his daughter to immediately issue an unconditional public apology to Shivambu, or face membership termination.

Zuma also wanted Zuma-Sambudla to extend formal apologies to all structures she serves in or leads, including the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, Zuma added.

On Tuesday Zuma-Sambudla made a public apology Zuma and the MKP leadership, without mentioning Shivambu's name.

"To President Jacob Zuma of the MK Party, the entire leadership, members, supporters of the MKP, and the people of South Africa, I wish to assure you that I never intended to harm the integrity of the party or the values it upholds. Hence, my deepest apology for any offense caused in this regard," Zuma-Sambudla said in her first apology.

This time, she acknowledged that her words and actions violated the Party's Disciplinary Code of Conduct, and said she deeply regretted any harm they may have caused.

"I take full responsibility for my statements and commit to upholding the values and integrity of uMkhonto weSizwe moving forward. I remain committed to working towards unity, progress and the total liberation of our people. I humbly ask for the understanding and forgiveness of my fellow comrades and the South African public," she said.

Zuma-Sambudla said she would use this moment as an opportunity for growth, discipline, and renewed commitment to the party's mission.

President Cyril Ramaphosa insists that South Africans know the pain of forced removals and will, thus, never again allow land to be confiscated - a position that he said was enshrined in the Constitution's prohibition against the arbitrary deprivation of property.

Replying after two days of debate on his State of the Nation Address (SoNA), which was dominated by President Donald Trump's executive order halting aid to South Africa on the unproved basis that the country was confiscating land from white farmers, Ramaphosa said South Africans had "toiled long and hard to build a nation united in its diversity".

"And I repeat, we will not be bullied from our intent to work together," he added, with reference to his SoNA speech - one made against the backdrop of a threatened withdrawal of American aid, which Trump formalised days later in an order titled 'Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa'.

Insisting that South African should "not allow others to define us or to divide us", the President also reflected on the country's history of force removals under apartheid, as well as the poverty and depravation experienced by black South Africans as a result of the Natives Land Act of 1913.

Again labelling the land question as South Africa's "original sin", he defended ongoing efforts to redress the country's apartheid legacy, which he said was necessary for building "a nation in which all people enjoy equal worth and equal opportunity".

Land redistribution, however, would be pursued within the framework of the Constitution, which stipulated that "just and equitable compensation be paid in the event of expropriation for a public purpose or in the public interest".

No reference was made to the newly enacted Expropriation Act's provision for "nil compensation" in certain circumstances, nor a recent move by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is one of ten parties participating in the Government of National Unity (GNU) that Ramaphosa leads, to challenge the Act in the High Court.

In his speech during the debate, DA leader John Steenhuisen called for the Expropriation Act to be amended, while also calling on the country to unite in the face of a "new threat" of possible US tariffs and even sanctions.

Ramaphosa, meanwhile, expressed confidence in the ability of the GNU to navigate the "different political and ideological perspectives" of participating parties, stating that "ways of mediating our differences" were being found in the interests of stability and economic growth.

However, he also said that the Constitution made it clear that a sitting President must assent to a Bill passed by Parliament, unless that President had reservations about its constitutionality.

"The Constitution does not permit that the act of assent by the President be subject to negotiation or to the terms of an agreement between parties."

South Africa, he added, should also strive for a "common message" on the type of society it was seeking to build, "particularly now when we are facing harsh global winds".

"This is not the time for any of us to rush off to foreign lands to lay complaints about issues that we can solve ourselves in our country," he added.

This, an indirect reference both to Trump's offer to resettle Afrikaner "refugees" in the US and plans by AfriForum to send its own separate delegation to the US in response to the order.

"We need South African solutions to South African problems," he said.

Lobby group AfriForum has hit out against what it termed "offensive and inflammatory" statements directed at the organisation, specifically pointing to statements by government officials such as Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya and politicians such as African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.

AfriForum has come under fire from various quarters in South Africa, following tensions with the US over the Expropriation Act, which many are blaming AfriForum for instigating.

The organisation made an urgent appeal following the distribution of a video on social media, which it said used "seriously offensive and threatening language". It also accused government officials and political leaders of making apparently offensive and inflammatory statements that it said increased tension between cultural communities.

The organisation considered the statement by Bhengu-Motsiri that AfriForum "should not be left alone" in a very serious light.

"Her claim that the ANC's 'focus should be on uniting South Africans' is not in line with the party's divisive actions and statements towards AfriForum. Contrary to what she claims, it is the ANC's domestic and foreign policies that have caused the damage to South Africa's image," said AfriForum intercultural relations and cooperation head Barend Uys.

He said it was also unacceptable for ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane to brand AfriForum as "unpatriotic" and "very racist".

He explained that AfriForum acted in the interest of citizens.

The civil rights organisation also emphasised that the statement made by Magwenya, that AfriForum was "sowing racial divisions and sowing fear" was simply untrue.

"AfriForum actively works with different traditional communities and in towns across cultural boundaries to improve the living conditions of citizens at grassroots level. It is precisely statements by government officials like Magwenya and politicians such as Bhengu-Motsiri that, in reality, cause racial division and jeopardise peaceful coexistence in South Africa. The ANC is actually accusing AfriForum of what they themselves are guilty of," he said.

AfriForum said such statements caused racial division and jeopardised peaceful coexistence in South Africa and urged mutual recognition and respect towards all cultural communities and citizens.

Under the controversial recently assented Expropriation Act, the South African government actually has a higher burden to prove and justify why an expropriation is necessary owing to the Act being drafted in a hugely administrative and burdensome way.

This was according to Werksmans Attorneys director for land reform Bulelwa Mabasa, who stressed that the Act promoted just and equitable compensation, only providing for no compensation in very pointed circumstances and instances.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Expropriation Bill, which sets out how the State can expropriate land in the public interest. The Bill has been met with criticism and concern, particularly the section that sets out expropriation with nil compensation.

Speaking exclusively with Polity, Mabasa noted that the argument that had been raised about expropriation without compensation was that the Constitution inextricably linked expropriation with compensation.

"So the argument there is that in South Africa, we don't have a system that allows for expropriation without compensation. Those instances that allow for expropriation without compensation are things like unused buildings, unused land where the landowner has abandoned the land, and also where the State holds property or assets, where, for example, the State doesn't require to hold such assets, and property in order to deliver on service delivery," she explained.

She highlighted that the process to expropriate under the new Act was in fact extremely laborious and time consuming, making it more difficult for the State to expropriate.

"…it needs to first send a notice of intention of expropriation. It then needs to ensure that they have reports from many different government departments, from the Department of Land Reform, from the Department of Electricity, from the Department of Environment," she explained.

Mabasa pointed out that there were many hoops that the State had to go through to justify an expropriation.

She explained that the State must also offer an amount of compensation, which a landowner or private owner had an opportunity to object to.

"…they have an opportunity to go through mediation. They have an opportunity to go to arbitration. And, ultimately, the courts, when there is no agreement, are the ones that are going to make a determination on the amount of compensation. So there is a section that may be controversial in the Act, if I'm not mistaken, that says that an expropriation can continue while all of these processes occur, and that the compensation may be paid afterwards," she said.

DA COURT ACTION

Meanwhile, Mabasa pointed out that the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) court challenge against the Expropriation Act could have raised more substantive issues, saying she viewed it as a missed opportunity.

She said the DA could have raised issues such as compensation, provisions, and maybe even the burden that the Act placed on the finalisation of the amount of compensation.

Last week, the party filed court papers in the Western Cape High Court, challenging the constitutionality of the Act, calling for it to be nullified in its entirety.

Mabasa noted that the DA's challenge was mainly based on procedural issues.

"They have said that they weren't procedurally ready, that those provinces in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) did not meet the necessary requirements of passing a law in the NCOP. Now those are very much procedural issues," she said.

She highlighted that if there were any constitutional issues that had been raised, those needed to have been substantive issues rather than procedural issues.

"…but, of course, there is also the argument that procedural law is also necessary in order to reach a substantive conclusion on whether something is lawful or not," she explained.

She said it was safe to say that the DA's challenge did not really go far enough in challenging the actual substance of the Act.

A group of healthcare organisations, the Universal Healthcare Access Coalition (UHAC), has expressed its belief that the National health Insurance (NHI) Act is "deeply flawed," highlighting that its proposals are not "feasible and potentially detrimental" to healthcare access.

The group held a media briefing on Wednesday, where it laid out why it believes the NHI remains unimplementable and presented its proposed framework for healthcare reform in South Africa.

It explained that the NHI plan lacks alignment with the current healthcare system, neglects necessary reforms and fails to address governance and equality issues in public and private healthcare.

The group pointed out that improving governance in the public health system and better regulating the private system for cost efficiency and equity, will address the currently polarised system of "an underperforming public sector and an expensive private sector."

UHAC steering committee member and SA Medical Association chair Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said the NHI does not materially depart from the weaknesses of the current system but instead centralises control without resolving fundamental problems.

"The Act as it stands is unworkable, lacking a clear implementation pathway and timeframes. Crucially, the NHI model of a single tax-financed fund to provide healthcare access and cover for the entire population is unfeasible and unattainable in the country's current and foreseeable economic future," he explained.

UHAC steering committee member Dr Aslam Dasoo said governance reform is a key element of the coalition's proposed framework, which proposes retaining health as a provincial competency to keep management and decision-making closest to service delivery points.

"We propose addressing current governance failures by de-politicising healthcare management through independent supervisory boards to oversee operational decision-making for each public health facility. This would improve accountability, reduce corruption, and enhance service delivery efficiency," he explained.

The UHAC announced that it has developed a "concrete, workable" reform pathway to address the "evident failures" in the public and private healthcare systems and to help achieve a high-performing system of universal access and coverage in South Africa.

Mzukwa said the UHAC proposes a mixed funding model of medical scheme contributions and general taxes, with some re-alignment of existing taxes, which he said better aligns with the country's fiscal constraints and will ensure long-term sustainability.

UHAC steering committee member and CEO of the SA Private Practitioners Forum Dr Simon Strachan believes the public health system is failing owing to "institutionalised corruption," which he said are enabled by "flawed governance structures."

The coalition suggested that healthcare funding (taxes and medical scheme contributions) and risk management be pooled at a national level to ensure equitable distribution of resources, and that purchasing of healthcare services be decentralised for more efficient, localised decision-making.

"The UHAC approach introduces multilateral tariff negotiations, independent regulation, and competitive alternatives to address rising costs in the private sector, which are more targeted and nuanced than the NHI's reliance on centralised purchasing," said Strachan.

The UHAC proposes mandatory medical scheme coverage for higher-income groups, to leverage the strengths of the private sector.

"Unlike the NHI which bars the private sector from covering services offered under the NHI, the coalition's proposal would see medical schemes continuing to offer the full spectrum of cover and services, albeit more tightly regulated for competitiveness and efficiency," the group said.

South Africa will probably wait until next year to lower its inflation target to address more pressing issues such as weak economic growth and fiscal consolidation, according to a survey of investors and analysts.

The South African Reserve Bank and National Treasury have been working on revising the inflation goal for almost a year, and will hold a conference on the matter next month.

Inflation averaged 2.9% in the last three months of 2024, its lowest level since the second quarter of 2020 and below the current 3% to 6% target range.

Governor Lesetja Kganyago wants to update the goal that's been in place for a quarter of a century. He has argued that a single-point target of 3% would be in line with South Africa's peers and allow for lower interest rates.

His counterpart at the Treasury, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, said he is unlikely to announce a new inflation target when he delivers the national budget on February 19, as more work needs to be done to achieve political consensus.

Of the 13 investors and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg on the matter, most agree with Godongwana that the process shouldn't be rushed.

"I don't see a problem that if you don't change the target now, given that inflation is under control, that you've missed the opportunity," said Kevin Lings, Stanlib's chief economist. "The target is a long-term objective."

The median estimate of the 13 participants in the Bloomberg survey is for the target to be lowered next year to 3% in a phased manner.

Bigger Priorities

They argue that the Treasury has bigger fish to fry.

"My view is it will be a debate, but we won't see a change anytime soon," said Elna Moolman, head of South Africa macroeconomic research at Standard Bank Group. "It's partly because ultimately it's a Treasury decision and I think that Treasury is rightly focused on other political battles at this stage, primarily fiscal consolidation."

South Africa's debt-service costs have become its largest spending item and are rising faster than economic growth, crowding out funds for health and education.

Those surveyed also argue that the Treasury would be reluctant to agree to a new inflation target now as it may have repercussions for growth, even if they were to be minimal as Kganyago has argued.

"We need growth as a matter of urgency," said Carmen Nel, head of multi-asset at Terebinth Capital. "There are long-run benefits toward low and stable inflation, but we should not rush it because you do risk curtailing what is an ascent recovery or upswing in being overly hawkish."

Economic growth has averaged less than 1% annually in the past decade because of logistic and energy constraints and is foreseen accelerating to 1.7% this year and 2% next.

The low growth and high debt burden also need to be addressed to attract investment, said Rashaad Tayob, portfolio manager and macro strategist at Foord Asset Management.

South Africa's "higher risk premium is due to debt risk - higher debt burden and persistent fiscal deficits - and the lack of growth orientated economic policies from the government," not inflation Tayob said. "The markets are now looking for a better policy framework out of government which can improve the growth outlook, rather than SARB reducing inflation further."

Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said on Wednesday his department is taking decisive action against corruption and mismanagement, warning those who he alleges want his department "to fail", that he will not be distracted, bullied and will not back down.

Making his address during day two of the State of the Nation Address debate, Macpherson said he takes a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and will hold officials and politicians to account.

He claimed that some members of parliament wanted his department to fail.

"While some members in this House seek out paid-for journalists and attempt to spread fake news through AI voice notes and falsified WhatsApps, including ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and some members in the ANC. But we will not be distracted. We will not be bullied. We will not back down. We will not be pressured by false reports, political collusion, or those being investigated for wrongdoing," he said.

The EFF recently opened a case against Macpherson for his alleged "corrupt interference" in tender processes at the Independent Development Trust (IDT), and for an alleged violation of National Treasury Regulations and the Executive Members Ethics Act.

Democratic Alliance (DA) national spokesperson Willie Aucamp said it was suspicious, and "entirely transparent", that the allegations came just as Macpherson was exposing, investigating and stopping serious corruption, including an R800-million scandal involving an oxygen tender awarded irregularly by the IDT, within his department.

ActionSA urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately suspend Macpherson, pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of criminal and unethical conduct.

Speaking during the debate, Macpherson said he found the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI) crippled by "neglect, inefficiency, and corruption."

He explained that morale was low, and the department's core mandate to build infrastructure, create jobs, and ensure public assets serve the people was failing.

Macpherson said in just seven months since he took over the DPWI, it has launched investigations into failed projects, including the R1-billion Telkom Towers in Tshwane and the R800- million IDT Oxygen tender.

"We are building a department with a bold vision, with staff that are motivated and where big ideas are embraced. One of my most important decisions has been to use public assets for public good," he explained.

He said State-owned properties have stood vacant for too long, and have attracted crime and decay, highlighted that his department has released public properties for requests for proposals, inviting the public and private sectors to submit ideas.

Macpherson said soon the department will convert "eyesores" such as the Barracks in eThekwini into mixed-use developments, where the first new skyscraper, in 20 years, will be built in the Durban CBD.

"In our first round, we will release 31 properties for redevelopment, valued at R1.4-billion. This is estimated to generate up to R10-billion in private investment, create over 165 000 jobs and generate close to R200-million in rental income for the South African government," he said.

He noted that over the next year, his department will attract R100-billion in private infrastructure investment, making Infrastructure South Africa the hub of all major projects.

Last week, the National Treasury issued Public-Private Partnership regulation reform, which Macpherson said is a tangible step toward achieving the department's R100-billion private sector funding goal.

He explained that the department will launch a Special Projects Unit to fast-track infrastructure projects and revive failed initiatives like the Sarah Baartman Centre for Remembrance.

"We will redevelop small harbours, such as the Hout Bay Harbour, into tourism and economic hubs - building the next V&A Waterfront which is set attract tens of billions of rands in investment and can create tens of thousands of...

Anti-corruption movement Transparency International's (TI's) 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has urged governments, international organisations, and businesses to place corruption at the centre of the global debate, and to put integrity at the centre of climate efforts, stressing the need to prioritise the integration of robust anti-corruption measures into climate finance, policies, and projects for real impact.

Local non-profit organisation Corruption Watch (CW) said South Africa's hosting of the G20 leaders' Summit provided a vital opportunity to advocate for G20 countries to make increased climate finance commitments that did not merge debt repayments, private financing and loans as a substitute for direct mechanisms to mitigate the climate crisis.

South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency in December, and will hold it until November 30, making it the first African country to preside over the G20.

The 2024 CPI found a strong link between the climate crisis and corruption, which it said undermined climate action by misdirecting resources, enabling harmful practices, and stifling progress.

It also explained that this highlighted the stark contrast between nations with strong, independent institutions and free and fair elections, and those with repressive authoritarian regimes.

CW pointed out that corruption was a global problem that affected every country and obstructed efforts to properly confront climate change.

The organisation highlighted that while some non-democratic countries might be perceived as managing certain forms of corruption better than more democratic countries, the broader picture showed that democracy and strong institutions were crucial for combating corruption fully and effectively.

"Some countries may have authoritarian or draconian anti-corruption measures, while others, even those at the top of the CPI, may enable corruption. The index does not capture how countries can facilitate transnational corruption, via stolen funds laundered through their economies and the bribery of foreign officials. This is where the main weaknesses of high-scoring countries lie," CW said.

According to the index, most countries have made little to no progress in tackling public sector corruption in more than a decade, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50 out of 100.

CW said this indicated serious and persistent corruption problems, which could have "huge and potentially devastating" implications for global climate action.

The CPI wants governments to shield climate policymaking from undue influence at national, regional, and international levels, and to also enhance investigations, sanctions, and protections to combat corruption, which will deter environmental crimes and reduce impunity.

It believes that undue influence on climate policy occurs in countries with high and low corruption levels - but in wealthy, developed countries, this interference undermines global progress the most.

"Countries with lower corruption levels generally show better readiness to face the challenges posed by climate change - but many are still not adopting the ambitious measures necessary to tackle the climate crisis, partly because of undue influence by businesses," the CPI pointed out.

The CPI also urges governments to strengthen citizen engagement in climate investments, enabling those affected by the climate crisis to help tailor the solutions.

CW explained that climate initiatives often failed by undermining the development and enforcement of critical climate and environmental policies, while corruption obstructed efforts to implement stringent regulations, reduce emissions, and promote clean energy initiatives.

It said there was also a lack of adequate transparency and accountability mechanisms, increasing the risk that climate funds may be misused or embezzled.