This letter serves to inform you about the status quo of the UN Convention against Corruption.

From 4 to 7 December 2001, an Informal Preparatory Meeting of the Ad Hoc

Committee was held in Buenos Aires. This meeting established a base document from

which formal negotiations commenced during 21 January to 1 February 2002 in

Vienna. The session was held from 29 September to 1 October 2003 in

Vienna. The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on 31 October 2003.

The negotiation process of the UN Convention against Corruption was led by a core delegation of Department of Public Service and Administration (convenor), National Treasury, the South African Police Service.(SAPS), the Office of the Public Service Commission and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. A small technical team was tasked with drafting discussion documents on possible positions to take during the UN negotiations. These documents were discussed in the Anti corruption Co-ordinating Committee and submitted to Cabinet for approval.

The Convention will be the focus of a Ministerial Signing Conference to be held from 9 to 11 December 2003 in Merida, Mexico. The Convention will be signed on behalf of South Africa by myself

Four side events have been organised in parallel to the plenary of the Conference.

These will focus on the role of the media and civil society, preventive measures, the

role of the private and public sectors, legislative measures to implement the

Convention, and measures to fight corruption in the international financial systems.

These side events will provide an opportunity for delegates to discuss all matters related to the Convention. of particular importance are the follow-up activities that need to be discussed to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention as envisaged by the General Assembly.

Preparations are also under way for ratification of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, and for implementation of the SADC Protocol against Corruption. In light of this, the adoption of the Prevention of Corrupt Activities Bill will be of great value in ensuring South Africa's compliance with the requirements of these agreements.