Mail & Guardian reporter
The ninth International Anti-Corruption Conference (IAAC) starts in Durban this weekend, bringing together world leaders and experts in the fight against corruption. The conferences are facilitated by Transparency International, which co- hosts this year’s event with the Department of Justice.
The IACC was created in 1983 as networking forum for international anti- corruption agencies. This year about 1 300 delegates will attend the conference, the majority from outside South Africa.
The five-day conference begins on Sunday October 10. The opening ceremony will include speeches by Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi and President Thabo Mbeki. Attendent luminaries include James Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, and one of his predecessors, Robert McNamara; former president Nelson Mandela and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Participating South African officials include Minister of Education Kader Asmal, asset forfeiture unit chief Willie Hofmeyer, Judge Willem Heath and Pravin Gordhan of the South African Revenue Service.
In recognition of the importance of the fight against corruption, the Mail & Guardian and sponsors Pick ‘n Pay and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa have decided to mark the conference with this special focus on corruption.
More information on the conference can be found at www.transparency.de/iacc/program.html