Tulani Ngwenya
Johannesburg, South Africa – A coalition of civil society organisations from South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Senegal is urging the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to expedite its investigation into a criminal complaint alleging serious international money laundering. The complaint, filed 19 months ago, details how stolen Congolese funds were used to purchase South African properties by corrupt Congolese politicians.
The organisations involved in the complaint include Open Secrets, the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), and Le Congo N’est Pas Á Vendre (The Congo is Not For Sale). They express deep concern over the lack of action by South African law enforcement despite the submission of substantial evidence.
The complaint centers around Francis Selemani, the adopted brother of former DRC President Joseph Kabila. It alleges that Selemani used proceeds from corruption in the DRC to acquire multiple properties in South Africa. The organisations hope that an investigation into Selemani would lead to the seizure of his South African assets and the return of the funds to the Congolese people.
The evidence presented in the complaint stems from the groundbreaking #CongoHoldUp investigation, which revealed how BGFI Bank was used to siphon off billions of dollars from the DRC’s public funds and natural resources. The investigation, conducted by PPLAAF, Médiapart, and other partners, uncovered a network of corruption involving Kabila’s inner circle.
A recent investigative alert from The Sentry highlights the urgency of the situation. It reveals that six of Selemani’s 16 South African properties have already been sold since the release of the #CongoHoldUp findings. The lack of action by South African authorities risks the permanent loss of these assets.
Jean-Jacques Lumumba, a Congolese whistleblower, emphasised the need for both domestic and international accountability. He stated, “The people of the Congo have been exploited and continue to suffer. Authorities must act and seize these assets.”
The DRC-based coalition “Congo is Not for Sale” has also called on local authorities to take action against Kabila and his associates. Additionally, investigations into related matters are underway in France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
South Africa’s failure to address such cases has contributed to its greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The NPA is urged to prioritise this investigation and ensure justice for the Congolese people whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by corruption.
