The effectiveness of financial disclosure regulations as an anti-corruption tool in local government

This paper examines the financial disclosure regulatory framework at local government level in South Africa.

This paper examines the financial disclosure regulatory framework at local government level in South Africa. Drawing on empirical data, it provides a detailed critique of this framework’s practical implementation. Specifically, it looks at the scope and content of disclosure requirements, compliance by elected officials, institutional support and capacity for disclosure, public access to information, and monitoring and oversight mechanisms. It highlights weaknesses in the current implementation of financial disclosure regulations and concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness of financial disclosure as an anti-corruption tool.

About the authors

Shireen Mukadam is a researcher at the ISS. She holds an MA in international affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. She has previously worked at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces as a research assistant and at Amnesty International.

Collette Schulz-Herzenberg is a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). She holds an MSc in democratic governance and a PhD in politics from the University of Cape Town.

Jamy Felton is a junior consultant for the ISS. She is currently studying towards her MA in politics at the University of Cape Town.