The Paradise Papers leak of 13.4-million documents from more than 19 "secrecy jurisdictions" across the world will put pressure on authorities to tighten up tax avoidance laws. The Paradise Papers were obtained by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and more than 380 journalists in 67 countries. It provides unprecedented insight into the mechanics of a number of countries considered key nodes in the global shadow economy, threatening to embarrass thousands of high-profile individuals. Most relevant for South African companies, the leak involves more than half a million secret records from Appleby’s office in Mauritius — a country touted as a gateway for those seeking to do business in Africa and a tax haven favoured by many large South African corporates to establish their offshore arms. Dick Forslund, an economist whose Alternative Information and Development Centre has tackled companies like Lonmin for putt...
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