Corruption in South Africa includes the improper use of public resources for private ends, including bribery and improper favouritism.[1] Corruption was at its highest during the period of state capture under the presidency of Jacob Zuma and has remained widespread, negatively "affecting criminal justice, service provision, economic opportunity, social cohesion and political integrity" in South Africa.[2]

South Africa has a robust anti-corruption framework, but laws are inadequately enforced and accountability in public sectors such as healthcare remain below par.[3] In addition, internal sanctions have been employed to discourage whistle-blowers from reporting corrupt activities in both the public and private sectors – according to a 2021 Afrobarometer survey, 76.2% of South Africans believe that ordinary people risk retaliation and other negative consequences if they report incidents of corruption.[4]

A scandal involving the Gupta family and former South African President Jacob Zuma pushed Zuma out of office as a long list of corruption complaints against the former President resurfaced.[5] Complaints against Zuma range from the former leader's lavish spending of state funds, to delegating contracts based on nepotism and businesses with familial connections or close ties benefiting through their association with him.[6] The Zondo Commission was later created to investigate Zuma and his associates for corruption. On November 11, 2020, it was revealed that a historic anti-corruption blitz resulted in the arrest of more than 100 South African political, education, health, police and business officials on corruption charges.[7]

Corruption has also negatively impacted South Africa's ability to resolve the country's long running energy crisis.[8][9][10] Despite efforts to reduce corruption, it remains a significant problem facing the country with a 2024 Afrobarometer survey showing that it has significantly contributed to a large drop in public support for democracy whilst hindering efforts to reduce poverty, unemployment, and inequality.[11][12]

Perception of corruption in South Africa

edit
 
Perception of honesty in the South African public sector since 1995. The higher the score, the more honest people perceive the public sector to be.
Source: Corruption Perceptions Index[13] via SAIRR (Oct 2020)[14]

In 2013, Afrobarometer found a substantial increase in the public's perception of corruption since 2008.[15] 66% of South Africans believed that the government could be doing more to curb corruption, compared to 56% elsewhere on the continent.[15] South Africans' experience of first-hand corruption ranks among the least on a first-hand basis in Africa.[clarification needed] At one stage only 15% of South Africans admit to having paid a bribe. The average percentage of all Africans having paid a bribe to government officials was around 30%.[15][citation needed]

Between 2011 and 2015, former President Jacob Zuma's public approval ratings almost halved, from 64% to 36%, possibly due to corruption scandals over that period.[15][citation needed] The majority of South Africans believe that various branches of government should oversee other branches of government's work. Around a quarter of South Africans feel they should be allowed to be responsible for holding elected representatives and leaders accountable.[15]

Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index scored South Africa at 41 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, South Africa ranked 83rd among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[16] Since Transparency International began using its current scoring system in 2012, South Africa's score has varied between a high of 45 in 2016 and its lowest score of 41 in 2023. For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score in 2023 was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 11 (ranked 180).[17] For comparison with regional scores, the average score among sub-Saharan African countries [Note 1] was 33. The highest score in sub-Saharan Africa was 71 and the lowest score was 11.[18]

In 2021, 9.1% of South Africans believed that corruption was the most important problem facing the country, meaning that corruption ranked second only to unemployment in the priorities of those surveyed.[4] 60.5% believed that the government was doing "very badly" at fighting corruption, and another 15.4% believed that it was doing "fairly badly."[4]

Apartheid and corruption

edit

Apartheid, a system of discrimination and segregation on racial grounds, dominated the ideology and political system in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. This system, which intentionally excluded non-Afrikaners from civil service jobs, government positions, and politics entirely, came to an end in 1994 when the African National Congress headed by Nelson Mandela conducted negotiations with the South African government at the time.[19]

Before the abolition of Apartheid, the South African civil service was a pervasive medium for rent-seeking and the preferential treatment of Afrikaners.[19] Policies favouring Afrikaner cultural and educational systems, the awarding of government contracts to Afrikaner businesses and the funding of parastatal Afrikaner organisations was a common phenomenon during the era of Apartheid. The building of rural homeland states in the 1980s created ideal projects for rent-seeking with many homeland leaders presiding over massive networks of patronage.[19] A notable corruption scandal during apartheid was the Muldergate scandal that involved the improper use of public funds to conduct a pro-apartheid propaganda campaign; the scandal brought down the government of Prime Minister John Vorster.

During the anti-apartheid struggle the African National Congress (ANC) was receiving funds from foreign donors in order to build up stronger opposition parties to protest against South Africa's National Party and Apartheid. These leaders were given large sums of money without formal book-keeping. There is however no reports or evidence of corruption.[19] The ANC's tradition of loyalty to the organization was shaped in the Apartheid era, with clear implications in modern-day ANC politics. In the middle years of Jacob Zuma's presidency, corruption became rampant in most government departments, intelligence agencies, the police and the military.

There is much ongoing debate regarding the origins of corruption and the definition of corruption in South Africa. The inherited bureaucracy and political culture which originated in the Apartheid era has rendered corruption issues hard to trace and tackle.[20] The presidency of Jacob Zuma following 2009 created an environment where corruption has flourished under the new leadership.[19] Both the new and old political order created their own types of corruption, benefiting those in their inner circles. Although forms of endemic corruption were passed on to the new order since 1994, new forms of corruption have emerged adding new layers of theft from the State's purse.

Types of corruption in South Africa

edit

Although South Africa is subjected to various types of corruption, three notable forms are wasteful expenditure, state capture, and corruption related to or using Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation. Recent state capture scandals involving South African politicians and the Gupta family have brought these types of corruption into the public spotlight. Petty corruption is another relevant issue affecting public services and day-to-day life in South Africa. Local municipalities have also been reported as significantly impacted by corruption with Corruption Watch describing them as amongst the most corrupt institutions in the country.[21] A 2022 report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has described the presence of organised crime as "an existential threat to South Africa’s democratic institutions, economy and people."[2]

Most prevalent sectors with reports of corruption in 2021.[22][23]
Sector % of total reports Most common type of corruption Province with highest number of reports (percentage)
Police 10.0% Abuse of authority Gauteng (47%)
Schools 5.8% Abuse of authority Gauteng (37%)
COVID-19 related corruption 3.8% Maladministration
Housing 3.1% Maladministration Gauteng (55%)
Health 2.7% Procurement corruption Gauteng (41%)
Traffic 2.7% Bribery and extortion Gauteng (83%)
Licensing 2.3% Bribery and extortion
Mining 1.2% Maladministration Limpopo (31%)

State capture

edit

State capture, a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a state's decision-making processes to their own advantage, became prevalent in South Africa during the presidency of Jacob Zuma (see section below).[24][25][26] The most notable incident of state capture is the Gupta family scandal (see section below).[27] State capture in South Africa has been estimated by government to have cost the country up to R 250 billion (US$ 17 billion) between 2014 and 2017,[28] and reduce the country's GDP growth rate by an estimated 4% a year.[29] Former South African Treasury official Ismail Momoniat has stated that state capture during the Zuma administration caused such severe damage to the South African economy that it effectively reversed all the efforts of the Mandela and Mbeki administrations to develop the country's economy.[30]

Black Economic Empowerment

edit

Two notable types of corruption related to the government policies of BEE and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) are BEE fronting and political corruption.

Political corruption

edit

BEE and BBBEE requirements have been used to facilitate state capture in South Africa with government contracts improperly awarded, at inflated prices, to politically connected "tenderpreneurs," sometimes to the detriment of quality and service delivery.[31][32][33] A notable criticism of BBBEE is that the policy has been co-opted and repurposed by factions and powerful members of South Africa's political elite, mostly within the governing ANC, for the purposes of corrupt self-enrichment at the expense of South Africans who are not politically connected,[34][35][36][37] thereby fueling the growth of corruption within South Africa, reducing economic growth and increasing unemployment.[38][39] Moeletsi Mbeki has argued that BEE is the biggest driver of corruption in South Africa.[38]

BEE fronting

edit

BEE fronting is an abuse of the rules governing BEE, where qualifying persons are given a seat on the board of a company while having no decision-making power in the company, in order to qualify the company for government contracts in terms of BEE.[40] In June 2017, Netcare, a company which operates the largest private hospital network in South Africa, was accused of BEE fronting.[41] Since then, 17 other complaints have been filed against various South African companies regarding BEE fronting.[41] Related to this is Cadre deployment and employment, which is an official ANC policy to colonize government with officials loyal to the ANC.[40]

Petty corruption

edit

Petty corruption is a prevalent issue in South Africa's public service sphere. A survey conducted by the ISS National Victims of Crime tested the extent and nature of petty corruption in South Africa.[42] One of the main issues highlighted by this survey is South Africans' lack of access to information regarding how to report corrupt acts.[42] The fear of facing repercussions for whistle blowing and the pervasive belief that reporting corruption will not cause change are two other concerns revealed by the 2011 survey.[42] Respondents of the survey were most likely to pay bribes to traffic officials, followed by police officers and officials in employment offices.[42] These findings support the notion that the perception of corruption in local government departments such as traffic and municipal policing is high.[42] The frequency of bribes involving police officers is concerning due to their role in tackling corruption and illicit behavior. Only 5.6% of South Africans reported experiencing forms of petty corruption involving either money, favours and gifts.[42] Even though the percentage of experienced corruption is low, the high perception of corruption has led respondents to prioritize corruption as the second most prevalent crime in the country.[42]

Corruption scandals

edit

Jacob Zuma and corruption

edit

Zuma's time in office was marked by controversy and numerous incidences of corruption. His resignation on February 14, 2018 came after months of pressure from the ANC.[43] In April 2018 it was announced that Zuma would be prosecuted on 12 counts of fraud, one of racketeering, two of corruption and one of money laundering. Zuma faced corruption charges involving the US$2.5 billion South African Arms Deal.[43] On 11 October 2019, a South African high court denied Zuma a motion to withdraw the recent criminal charges against him.[44] Zuma was imprisoned for refusing to give evidence to the Zondo Commission resulting in the July 2021 unrest.[45][46]: 52 

Nkandla

edit

The Nkandla homestead scandal involved the controversial, and possibly corrupt,[47] funding of President Jacob Zuma's personal homestead at public expense. After a home invasion and the subsequent rape of one of Zuma's four wives, Zuma accessed the means to upgrade security measures at his homestead.[48] A report by South Africa's public protector in 2014 found Zuma had inappropriately allocated state funds to finance additional home improvements such as the addition of a swimming pool, amphitheater, visitor centre and cattle enclosure to his property (among others).[24][49] In 2018, South Africa's highest court found Mr. Zuma guilty of violating the constitution in regard to the lavish spending of R 246 million (US$19.14 million) of State funds on his homestead in Nkandla.[50]

Gupta family scandal

edit
 
A protest placard depicting Gupta family member Atul Gupta at a protest against corruption during the Zuma administration. The slogan "#Not My President" on the placard explicitly links Atul Gupta with corruption and state capture associated with the Presidency of Jacob Zuma.

Zuma's close relationship with the Gupta family has been highlighted in the former South African Public Protector's report on State Capture.[24]

In 2016, the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, investigated the Gupta Family Scandal after receiving a formal complaint from a Catholic priest, called Father Stanslaus Muyebe. The State of Capture report released by the Public Protector in 2016 reported on the dangers of state capture in

South Africa.[51] The 355-page document reports Mr. Zuma's preferential treatment of the Gupta family and the involvement of Jacob Zuma's son and the Gupta family.[24] The allegations reported include the Gupta Family's involvement in the appointments and removals of members of the South African cabinet, the unlawful awarding of state contracts to Gupta-linked companies or persons, the banks’ preferential treatment of Gupta-owned companies and, Zuma's conflict of interest concerning his position and business dealings.[24] The Gupta brothers, who have been major players in South African business for over a decade began growing their relationship with former President Jacob Zuma in 2003 when he occupied the Office of Deputy President. Since 2003, both parties benefited from an understanding wherein the Gupta family financed the Zuma family while President Zuma appointed friendly officials and awarded lucrative state contracts to the Gupta empire.[52] South African authorities are seeking to recover up to US$4.07 billion lost to these Gupta deals.[52] Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane and Gloria Ngeme Zuma, one of Mr. Zuma's wives, received large transfers and monthly salaries for positions held at one of the Gupta firms.

The Gupta family has engaged in a numerous suspicious transactions involving a series of shell companies and state-owned enterprises.[24] The OCCRP has reported on Transnet's contract with South China Rail and subcontracts with Gupta-run organizations. State controlled companies like Eskom and Transnet are in the centre of illicit deals with Gupta companies.[53] An arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta was issued in February 2018.[54] Some of the members of the Gupta family – those accused in the corruption case – were reported as residing in the emirate of Dubai as of 11 June 2021.[55] The Bank of Baroda played an important role in facilitating irregular financial transactions for the Guptas.[52]

Russian nuclear deal

edit
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin with South African President Jacob Zuma in 2017.

In 2014 the Zuma administration and the Russian government put pressure on the South African government to sign a R1 trillion (US$66 billion) nuclear energy deal with the Russian state owned enterprise Rosatom to build and operate up to eight nuclear power plants in an effort to resolve the South African energy crisis;[56][57] both the Russian government and the Zuma administration were criticized for forcing through the deal by attempting to circumvent South Africa's procurement laws.[57] Then South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene gave testimony to the Zondo Commission that he was fired for not approving a US$100 billion version of the deal in 2015.[58] The deal was cancelled by court order in April 2017.[57]

Eskom

edit

The state owned national power utility Eskom as experienced numerous corruption scandals since the start of the South African energy crisis in 2008 and increased in intensity from 2019 onward. These range from outright theft of diesel for backup generators, providing substandard coal for coal fired power plants, and metal theft to sabotaging energy infrastructure so as to get contracts to do repairs.[59][60] Corruption, particularity state capture, has also negatively impacted the construction and operation of new power plants, notably Medupi and Kusile.[61][62] Then Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter, controversially stated in a public interview that four criminal syndicates had established themselves within Eskom, that corruption was costing the utility a billion Rand a month (roughly equivalent to US$53.9 million), and that a senior ANC MP was involved.[63][64] De Ruyter went on to say that "load shedding is, to a large extent, attributable to crime and corruption" within Eskom.[65]

The Arms Deal scandal

edit

The arms deal, formally known as the Strategic Defence Package, was a multi-billion dollar deal involving arms acquisitions from countries such as Germany and France.[66] This arms deal set a precedent for cases of large-scale corruption and high levels of bribery and embezzlement in the African National Congress. This arms deal came at a time when the AIDS epidemic was rampant throughout Africa and poverty and inequality in the region still remained among the highest in the world. Taxpayers protested the arms deal through a public interest lawsuit claiming that the deal was unconstitutional and irrational.[67] Various South African and international evidence teams have been investigating the arms deal since the early 2000s.[66] Rumors of embezzlement, bribes and kick-backs by and between the external players in this procurement and that of the ANC, have prompted further investigations. In 2011, Former President Zuma appointed a Commission of Enquiry headed by Judge Willie Seriti[68] to investigate allegations of impropriety, fraud and corruption around the 1998 Arms Deal.[68]

As of March 2018, Jacob Zuma has been facing 16 charges of corruption, money laundering, racketeering and fraud involving the 1998 Arms Deal.[69] In total Zuma has been accused of accepting 783 illegal payments, including receiving bribes from a French Arms firm via his financial advisor.[69] In April 2018, two months after resigning from office, Zuma was charged with graft by a national jury.[69] On 11 October 2019, a South African high court upheld all 16 charges against Zuma.[44] A 15-month prison sentence which was issued to Zuma for contempt of court on this case would be reserved by the Constitutional Court of South Africa on 12 July 2021.[70][71][72][73] On 20 July 2021, it was agreed that former South African President Jacob Zuma's criminal trial for this would case would begin on either August 10 or August 13, 2021.[74][75] Prior to his imprisonment Zuma threatened that his arrest would result in nationwide riots; following his imprisonment in July 2021 triggered large scale riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.[46]: 52 

Sekunjalo Investments & Iqbal Survé

edit

Sekunjalo Investments, a company owned by controversial South African businessman Iqbal Survé, has been involved in a number of scandals and accusations of corruption. These range from the Qatargate corruption scandal at the European Parliament,[76][77] the alleged bypassing of normal processes by Public Investment Corporation executives to receive public investments[78] and failed repayments on the investments,[79] to allegedly problematic payments to various South African politicians.[80]

Other notable corruption scandals

edit

1990s

edit

"The A.N.C. has established a very clear pattern and the pattern is simple. You can be whatever you like as long as you are loyal. The minister of health may be responsible for 'Sarafina' but she is loyal, so she will be defended. The problem is you can't deal with corruption this way."

- Steve Friedman, Center for Policy Studies (1996)[81]

  • The Reverent Allan Boesak was found to have misappropriated donor funds in 1994 intended for his Foundation for Peace and Justice causing significant public controversy.[82] Despite efforts by the ANC government to clear instances of misappropriation[83] Boesak was found guilty of stealing R332,000 in 1999 and convicted.[84]
  • In 1995 senior ANC member Winnie Mandela was accused of receiving a US$20,000 bribe from a building contracting company so they could secure government tenders to build public housing.[81]
  • Sarafina 2 was a government funded play based on the musical Sarafina! that was to increase awareness of the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 1996 the ANC and South African government were criticized for not taking action against Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma and other ANC members accused of corruption and misconduct in organising the US$4 million play.[81]
  • ANC member and deputy minister of Environment and Tourism, Bantu Holomisa, was expelled from the ANC in 1996 after Holomisa accused former Transkei Prime Minister Stella Sigcau and a number of ANC members of being involved in a corrupt relationship with the South African casino magnate Sol Kerzner.[85][86]
  • Former President Jacob Zuma's financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, was sentenced to 15 years in 2005 for soliciting a bribe from a French arms company Thales in 1999. The bribe was solicited on behalf of Zuma when he was Deputy President of South Africa.[69] Then presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj was implicated in the bribery scandal when investigated by the Scorpions in 2003.[87]

2000s

edit
  • New National Party politician Abe Williams was convicted in the year 2000 of corruption involving R240,112 and theft of R383,000 of donor funds intended for the upliftment of impoverished West Coast communities.[88][89]
  • The 2004 Oilgate scandal involved the transfer of R11 million from the state owned PetroSA to the ANC so as to help fund its re-election campaign in the run-up to the 2004 national elections.[90][91] The Mail & Guardian newspaper was controversially gagged by the courts from publishing a report on the scandal following the election.[92]
  • Tony Yengeni, the ANC's chief parliamentary whip, was found guilty of fraud in 2005 after Yengeni received a large discount on a luxury car from a firm bidding for a government contract.[69] In 2007 Goodwood police station commander, Siphiwu Hewana, was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by tampering with the docket for convicted fraudster Tony Yengeni's arrest for driving under the influence.[93]
  • In 2005, the Travelgate scandal exposed Members of Parliament who were found to have illegally used parliamentary travel vouchers in a fraud exceeding R37,000,000 for personal use. As the CFO who identified the fraud reported: "I, Harry Charlton FCA, JP can confirm 6 travel agents and 435 then past and present MP's including 3 members of Mbeki's Cabinet were implicated - most of them ANC MPs. 50 plea bargained for sentences that would allow them to remain as MPs. There were 3 formats of fraud totalling in excess of R37 million (USD12million). The investigation went back 15 months but there was clear evidence that the fraud had been operating for a longer period. As I would not cooperate my services were terminated by Secretary Dingani in January 2016".[94] Dingani was himself was terminated for fraud.[95]
  • Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Sepp Blatter agreed to a $10m deal in 2007, which US prosecutors say was a "bribe" to secure the 2010 World Cup.[96]

2010s

edit
  • Former National Police Commissioner and ex-President of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, was charged with graft in July 2010, for receiving (at least) R120,000 from alleged crime-syndicate boss, Glenn Agliotti.[97]
  • The Vrede Dairy Project was a 2012 government project established to empower black dairy farmers in the town of Vrede at a cost of R250 million. The Gupta family[98] and Free State provincial premier Ace Magashule were implicated in the theft of almost all the project's funds.[99]
  • National secretary general of the ANC, Ace Magashule, was suspended from his position [100] and arrested on 21 charges of corruption[101] for his involvement in a 2014 corruption scandal that took place whilst he was Premier of the Free State.[102] The R255 million contact to remove asbestos from public housing in the province was awarded to Blackhead Consulting[102] that in turn made numerous payments to third parties at Magashule's instruction or with his knoweldge.[103]
  • In 2015 the German offices of the South African based private company Steinhoff International were raided.[104][105] This publicly exposed one of the biggest cases of "corporate fraud in South Africa's history"[106] implicating Steinhoff's South African CEO Markus Jooste.[107]
  • The collapse of the VBS Mutual Bank in 2018 due to fraud and corruption created a scandal that implicated municipalities,[108] the ANC,[109] and the Economic Freedom Fighters.[110]
  • Government contractor Bosasa was found to have been giving senior ANC members bribes to secure lucrative government contracts and avoid investigation. After the scandal was exposed and the company entered voluntary liquidation in 2019 the CEO, Gavin Watson, died in uncertain circumstances.[111][112] In 2023 two of the companies court appointed liquidators were shot dead in a suspected assassination that was allegedly connected to their work tracing Bosasa's finances.[113][114]

2020s

edit

Anti-corruption initiatives

edit

Government initiatives against corruption are coordinated by the Department of Public Service and Administration.[119] The Public Protector also plays a role in fighting corruption. A disbanded independent anti-corruption unit named the Scorpions was replaced by the Hawks.[120] South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, was designed to target organized crime, economic crime and corruption.[120] The group was established by the Zuma administration in 2008.[120] South Africa has a well-developed framework and legislation outlining corruption initiatives. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act (PCCA) criminalizes corruption in public and private sectors and codifies specific offences making it easier for courts to use the legislation.[121] This act especially condemns bribery, extortion, abuse of power and money laundering while obliging public officials to report corruption offences.[121] Like many corruption regulations in South Africa, the PCCA is poorly implemented and the Act does not include any protection measures for whistle-blowers.[121]

The National Anti-Corruption Forum provides an online guide to the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act (PCCA).[122] Other acts like the Promotion of Access to Information Act calls for an increased access to public information.[122] The Public Finance Management Act examines government expenditures and the Code of Conduct for Assembly and Permanent Council members calls for the full disclosure of members to report gifts.[122] Enforcement mechanisms remain weak for many of these preventative Acts, allow for corrupt actions to go unreported. South Africa has ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.[122]

Despite these efforts perceptions of the growth of corruption in South Africa continued to increase and deepen in 2023 and 2024[123][124][125] with the country's Corruption Perceptions Index dropping below the global average for the first time.[124]

Zondo Commission

edit

In 2018 the Zondo Commission of Inquiry was set up to investigate allegations of State Capture and corruption during the administration of President Jacob Zuma. Testimony given during the inquiry implicated Bosasa,[126] Bain & Company,[127][128][129] the Gupta family and associates of former President Zuma.[130] During the inquiry hearings a joint memorandum signed by the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland representing countries that make up 75% of foreign direct investment into South Africa warned that if unaddressed corruption would have a negative impact on future investment in South Africa. It called for President Ramaphosa at act against perpetrators of corruption.[131] The South African government responded that it was disappointed by the memorandum not following "acceptable" diplomatic practices.[132] The Zondo Commission's findings in 2022 exposed widespread corruption.[133][134]

2020 anti-corruption blitz

edit

In 2020, South Africa saw multiple high-profile corruption arrests, including former Mangaung mayor Olly Mlamleli[135] and two senior police officials: Lieutenant-Generals Khomotso Phahlane[136] and Bonang Mgwenya.[137] Numerous other officials, including SAPS officers[137][138][139] and government employees, were also arrested on corruption charges throughout the year.[7] The cases extended to prominent figures like ANC MP Bongani Bongo and former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi.[140] The Auditor-General reported R488.14 billion[141] (US$34.28 billion)[142] in questionable government spending for 2020/21, with 66% of COVID-19 PPE procurement funds lost to corruption.[143]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Republic of the Congo, Swaziland, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Lodge, Tom (31 December 2011). "Political Corruption in South Africa". Political Corruption. ISBN 9781412813891.
  2. ^ a b "Strategic Organized Crime Risk Assessment" (PDF). Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. September 2022. pp. 7, 21, 22, 29–30, 110, 112. Retrieved 15 April 2023. p. 7: Corruption peaked during the state capture period under President Jacob Zuma but remains widespread and deeply corrosive, affecting criminal justice, service provision, economic opportunity, social cohesion and political integrity.
  3. ^ "Business Corruption in South Africa". Business Anti-Corruption Portal.
  4. ^ a b c "Summary of results: Afrobarometer Round 8 survey in South Africa in 2021". Afrobarometer. 2021. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  5. ^ "The delicate dance to depose Jacob Zuma". The Economist.
  6. ^ "Long waltz to Freedom: South Africa Politics". The Economist. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b "More than 100 people have now been arrested in SA's recent corruption blitz – here's the list". Business Insider South Africa. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  8. ^ Staff Writer. "How the ANC government broke Eskom – 2008 versus 2018". Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  9. ^ Grootes, Stephen (3 June 2021). "ANALYSIS: Thirteen wasted years later, our electricity network is crumbling – and South Africa with it". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Problems at Eskom Identified as a Main Cause of SA's Energy Crisis". College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Corruption crushing South Africa's core". BusinessTech. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  12. ^ "African insights 2024: Democracy at risk – the people's perspective" (PDF). Afrobarometer. 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Corruptions Perceptions Index: South Africa". Transparency International. 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Free Facts: Corruption eats at South Africa's foundations" (PDF). SAIRR. October 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e "South Africans increasingly dissatisfied with their elected leaders' performance" (PDF). Afrobarometer. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  16. ^ "The ABCs of the CPI: How the Corruption Perceptions Index is calculated". Transparency.org. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Corruption Perceptions Index 2023: South Africa". Transparency.org. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  18. ^ "CPI 2023 for Sub-Saharan Africa: Impunity for Corrupt Officials, Restricted Civic Space & Limited Access to Justice". Transparency.org. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e Hyslop, Jonathan (2005). "Political Corruption: Before and After Apartheid". Journal of Southern African Studies. 31 (4): 773–789. doi:10.1080/03057070500370555. S2CID 154559377.[dead link]
  20. ^ Lukasiewicz!, Mariusz (2014). "Still walking to freedom? A historical retrospective of the first 20 years of South African democracy". Current Affairs in Perspectives (4).
  21. ^ "'Local government the weakest link'". Corruption Watch. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  22. ^ "The most common types of corruption in South Africa". Business Tech. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Corruption Watch: Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Corruption Watch. 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e f "State of Capture" (PDF). Public Protector.
  25. ^ State Capacity Research Group. 2017. "Betrayal of the Promise Report." Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute
  26. ^ Chipkin, Ivor, and Mark Swilling, et al. 2018. Shadow State: The Politics of State Capture. Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
  27. ^ "Zuma defends relationship with Guptas – report". News24.com. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  28. ^ reporter, Citizen. "R250bn lost to state capture in the last three years, says Gordhan". The Citizen. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  29. ^ Maguban, Khulekani (6 June 2019). "Damage from state capture 'worse than suspected' - SARB". Fin24. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  30. ^ Mahlaka, Ray (31 January 2022). "YEARS OF ZUMA: Current and ex-Treasury officials: State Capture nearly destroyed South Africa". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  31. ^ Harvey, Ebrahim (17 August 2020). "Towards understanding ANC corruption in South Africa". Polity. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  32. ^ Mantell, Simon (3 April 2019). "BEE inadvertently became 'prime enabler of State Capture and corruption' in South Africa". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  33. ^ Pike, Angela; Puchert, Juliet; Chinyamurindi, Willie T. (2018). "Analysing the future of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment through the lens of small and medium enterprises" (PDF). Acta Commercii. 18 (1): 566. doi:10.4102/ac.v18i1.566. ISSN 1684-1999. S2CID 67844509.
  34. ^ Lötter, Casper (2022). "Does Economic Restructuring during Covid-19 in South Africa amount to Disaster Capitalism?". Phronimon. 23. doi:10.25159/2413-3086/10503. S2CID 252444612.
  35. ^ Myburgh, Pieter-Louis (9 February 2021). "SCORPIO ANALYSIS: The ANC has broken its own black empowerment toolkit – and Ramaphosa government understands it". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  36. ^ Ntingi, Andile. "B-BBEE is buckling under pressure". Fin24. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  37. ^ Shava, Elvin (December 2016). "Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa: Challenges and Prospects". Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies. 8 (6): 161–170. doi:10.22610/jebs.v8i6(J).1490 – via Research Gate.
  38. ^ a b Smith, Carin. "Moeletsi Mbeki: BEE and affirmative action are biggest drivers of corruption in SA". Fin24. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  39. ^ "BBBEE road to an oligarchy – John Steenhuisen". BizNews.com. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  40. ^ a b "African National Congress National Consultative Conference". African National Congress. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  41. ^ a b "Why BEE fronting is a bad idea – and won't be tolerated any longer". Business Tech.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g van Vuuren, Hennie. "Extent and nature of petty corruption in South Africa". Institute For Security Studies. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  43. ^ a b "CORRECTS: Former South African president Jacob Zuma to be prosecuted on 16 charges of corruption". Reuters. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  44. ^ a b Burke, Jason (11 October 2019). "Zuma to stand trial on corruption charges relating to $2.5bn arms deal". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  45. ^ "S Africa violence spreads after Jacob Zuma jailed". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  46. ^ a b "Report of the Expert Panel into the July 2021 Civil Unrest". The Presidency of South Africa. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  47. ^ Vos, Pierre de (27 January 2013). "Nkandla: it depends on the definition of "corruption" » Constitutionally Speaking". Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  48. ^ Smith, David (5 May 2014). "Burglars raped my wife, Jacob Zuma says as he defends home improvements". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  49. ^ "South Africa's Jacob Zuma 'sorry' over Nkandla scandal". BBC News. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  50. ^ Myre, Greg (14 February 2018). "South Africa's Zuma Leaves Office As He Entered — Accused Of Corruption". NPR.
  51. ^ "SA CONTINUES TO KEEP DUBIOUS COMPANY ON CPI". Corruption Watch. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  52. ^ a b c Joseph, Josy. "India's Bank of Baroda Played a Key Role in South Africa's Gupta Scandal". The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
  53. ^ SHARIFE, KHADIJA. "Guptas, Big Banks Linked to South African-Chinese Locomotive Deal". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
  54. ^ Bonorchis, Renee. "How South Africa Is Cleaning House After Zuma's Eviction". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  55. ^ "South Africa Faults U.A.E.'s Failure to Cooperate on Graft Fight". BNN Bloomberg. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  56. ^ Hunter, Qaanitah (26 September 2014). "Jacob Zuma's secret nuke 'stitch-up'". amaBhungane. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  57. ^ a b c Thamm, Marianne (18 December 2019). "ANALYSIS: How South Africans thwarted secret Putin/Zuma nuclear deal". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  58. ^ "South Africa's Zuma fired me for blocking Russian nuclear power deal: Nene". Reuters. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  59. ^ "Scandal at South Africa's Eskom: the CEO and the cyanide-laced coffee". Financial Times. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  60. ^ "Sabotage at Eskom is rampant: report". Businesstech. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  61. ^ "Medupi fails two tests already". The Mail & Guardian. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  62. ^ Tshidavhu, Fhumulani; Khatleli, Nthatisi (2020). "An assessment of the causes of schedule and cost overruns in South African megaprojects: A case of the critical energy sector projects of Medupi and Kusile". Acta Structilia. 27 (1): 126. doi:10.18820/24150487/as27i1.5. ISSN 2415-0487. S2CID 225720389.
  63. ^ "Eskom is the ANC's feeding trough — De Ruyter comes out guns blazing in interview". MyBroadband. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  64. ^ Madia, Tshidi. "ANC leaders upset by Andre de Ruyter's scathing criticism of the party". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  65. ^ Pilling, David (2 March 2023). "Scandal at South Africa's Eskom: the CEO and the cyanide-laced coffee". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  66. ^ a b Perlo-Freeman, Samuel. "The South African Arms Deal". World Peace Foundation. Retrieved 24 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
  67. ^ "The 1998 Arms Deal / Strategic Defence Procurement Package". Global Security.
  68. ^ a b "WHAT IS THE SERITI COMMISSION?". Corruption Watch. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  69. ^ a b c d e "South Africa arms deal that landed Zuma in court: What you need to know". BBC News. 6 April 2018.
  70. ^ Perreira, Ernsie (12 July 2021). "Constitutional Court reserves judgment in Zuma case". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  71. ^ "CONCOURT RESERVES JUDGMENT IN ZUMA'S RESCISSION BID". Eyewitness News. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  72. ^ "Judgment reserved in Zuma's rescission application". SABC. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  73. ^ Palley, Kailene (12 July 2021). "ConCourt reserves judgment on Jacob Zuma's bid to have prison sentence rescinded". IOL. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  74. ^ "South African court postpones Zuma's corruption trial to August". Al Jazeera. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  75. ^ AFP (20 July 2021). "Corruption trial of S.Africa's Zuma to resume August 10". Yahoo News. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  76. ^ Cohen, Tim (21 December 2022). "Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Development Foundation linked to EU scandal". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  77. ^ "Brussels to question ex-commissioner over Qatar scandal". www.ft.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  78. ^ Nicolson, Greg (14 February 2019). "Inquiry witnesses receive death threats". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  79. ^ Paton, Carol (1 November 2018). "Iqbal Surve fails to make debt repayment to PIC". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  80. ^ Maughan, Karyn. "How Iqbal Survé's companies paid Niehaus, Pandor's daughter, ANC MPs – and explained it away". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  81. ^ a b c Daley, Suzanne (8 October 1996). "South Africa Scandal Over 'Sarafina' Spotlights Corruption in the A.N.C." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  82. ^ Meredith, Martin (2010). Mandela: A biography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0679781783.
  83. ^ Meredith, Martin (2010). Mandela: A biography. Simon and Schuster.
  84. ^ "Allan Boesak convicted". The Mail & Guardian. 17 March 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  85. ^ Mkhabela, Mpumelelo (2022). The Enemy Within. Tafelberg. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9780624091226.
  86. ^ "SAPA - 30 Aug 96 - HOLOMISA HAD NO RESPECT FOR THE ANC: ANC JUDGMENT". www.justice.gov.za. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  87. ^ "Unearthing a buried trail of lies of Mac Maharaj's relationship with Shaik". The Mail & Guardian. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  88. ^ "Abe Williams to start 3-yr jail term on Saturday". News24. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  89. ^ "Abe Williams walks after serving a year". The Mail & Guardian. 25 September 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  90. ^ "South Africa to investigate 'Oilgate' scandal". gulfnews.com. 4 June 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  91. ^ "PetroSA still hurting after Oilgate taint". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  92. ^ "Court gag on South Africa 'oilgate' report". the Guardian. 27 May 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  93. ^ "Yengeni cop found guilty". News24. 30 November 2009.
  94. ^ "Charlton v Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (680/2010) [2011]". SAFLII. 16 September 2011. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  95. ^ "40 accused in South African MPs' fraud case". the Guardian. 24 January 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  96. ^ Allen, Karen (8 June 2015). "Fifa corruption claims: South Africa 'agreed $10m deal'". BBC News. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  97. ^ "South Africa ex-police head Selebi guilty of corruption". BBC News 2.
  98. ^ "'Guptas' farm cash cows in Free State". amaBhungane. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  99. ^ Bateman, Barry (25 January 2018). "Hawks Raid FS Premier's Office Over Gupta-linked Vrede Dairy Farm". Eyewitness News.
  100. ^ Letshwiti-Jones, Pule; Hunter, Qaanitah (5 May 2021). "ANC suspends secretary-general Ace Magashule". News24. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  101. ^ Hamill, James (1 December 2020). "A Ruling Party Official's Arrest Boosts South Africa's Fight Against Corruption". World Politics Review. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  102. ^ a b Myburgh, Pieter-Louis (10 November 2020). "Arrest warrant issued for ANC SG Ace Magashule over Free State asbestos saga". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  103. ^ Nicolson, Greg (12 December 2021). "Ace Magashule's R255m case 'bears hallmarks of corruption', says Free State prosecuting authority". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  104. ^ "Not possible to say when Steinhoff probe will end – German prosecutors". Moneyweb. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  105. ^ Friedman, Steven (14 December 2017). "South Africa's fraught race relations are laid bare in the Steinhoff corporate fraud scandal". Quartz. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  106. ^ "Former Steinhoff CFO fined, banned from directing a listed company for the next decade". The Mail & Guardian. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  107. ^ Shapiro, Tevya (23 September 2022). "WHAT WE'RE WATCHING : 'Steinheist' — scrutinising and dramatising South Africa's biggest corporate scam". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  108. ^ Makinana, Andisiwe (23 October 2018). "No bailout for municipalities who ploughed cash into VBS Mutual Bank". TimesLive. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  109. ^ Madia, Tshidi (11 October 2018). "ANC Limpopo to hold emergency meeting over VBS". News24.
  110. ^ Van Wyk, Pauli (11 October 2018). "The Shivambu Brothers and the Great VBS Heist". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  111. ^ Cilliers, Charles (15 September 2019). "Gavin Watson was already dead before his crash, private pathologist finds". The Citizen. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  112. ^ Cowan, Kyle. "Gavin Watson's death: 7 key unanswered questions". News24. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  113. ^ "Killing of Cloete and Thomas Murray deeply concerning - FUL - POLITICS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  114. ^ "Cloete Murray: South African corruption investigator shot dead". BBC News. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  115. ^ Thamm, Marianne (12 November 2021). "IPID REPORT ON POLICE ANALYSIS: SAPS threw Charl Kinnear to the wolves". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  116. ^ Bhengu, Lwandile. "Seven people arrested for murder of Gauteng health dept official Babita Deokaran". News24. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  117. ^ Cruywagen, Vincent (28 August 2021). "DM168 AGE OF THE ASSASSIN: Slain whistle-blower Babita Deokaran potentially unveiled a criminal syndicate at the Department of Health". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  118. ^ Aweh, Politically (22 May 2022). "POLITICALLY AWEH (VIDEO): SA government's Covid-19 management in the crosshairs". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  119. ^ "Welcome to the official South African government online site! - South African Government". South African Government.
  120. ^ a b c "SWITCHING SCORPIONS' CASES TO HAWKS". Corruption Watch. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  121. ^ a b c van Vuuren, Hennie. "South Africa: Democracy, Corruption and Conflict Management" (PDF). Democracy Works. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  122. ^ a b c d Naidoo, Vinothan. "The politics of anti-corruption enforcement in South Africa" (PDF). Journal of Contemporary African Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  123. ^ Erasmus, Des (1 February 2024). "Corruption in South Africa is 'more entrenched'". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  124. ^ a b Pongweni, Takudzwa (30 January 2024). "South Africa records its lowest score on Corruption Perceptions Index, drops below global average". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  125. ^ Thorne, Seth (30 January 2024). "South Africa seen as more corrupt than ever before".
  126. ^ "President for sale: Watsons 'bought Zuma for R300k a month'". www.timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  127. ^ Nicolson, Greg (23 March 2021). "DAYS OF ZONDO: Bain & Co planned to work with Zuma to 'reshape SA economy', says former partner Athol Williams". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  128. ^ "Zondo inquiry may force Bain to answer questions". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  129. ^ "Bain's role in dismantling Sars". Moneyweb. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  130. ^ Smit, Sarah (27 November 2018). "Zondo commission: 'What did the ANC do?'". The M&G Online. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  131. ^ Ritchie, Gemma (3 February 2019). "Corruption memo to Ramaphosa a foreign embassy faux pas — Dirco". The M&G Online. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  132. ^ "Dirco notes with 'disappointment' foreign ambassadors' joint memo on corruption". MSN. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  133. ^ Chutel, Lynsey (23 June 2022). "South Africa's Corruption Inquiry Leaves Few of the Nation's Powerful Unscathed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  134. ^ "South Africa's Zondo commission: Damning report exposes rampant corruption". BBC News. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  135. ^ Tandwa, Lizeka (30 September 2020). "Free State asbestos case: Ousted Mangaung mayor among those arrested, ANC to have urgent meeting". News 24. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  136. ^ Thamm, Marianne (30 July 2020). "Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane sacked". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  137. ^ a b Thamm, Marianne (12 October 2020). "SA's second most senior cop, Lieutenant-General Bonang Mgwenya, appears on corruption charges for dodgy tenders". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  138. ^ Nombemde, Philani (23 December 2020). "Cape Town border control police officers arrested for 'business robbery'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  139. ^ Richardson, Paul (4 June 2020). "Top South African Police Officers Arrested in Graft Crackdown". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  140. ^ "Zondo sets down new dates for Zuma to appear at commission". Business Live. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  141. ^ Heywood, Mark (16 January 2022). "PROCUREMENT PROFLIGACY: No consequence: The accumulated irregular expenditure reaches R488-billion". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  142. ^ "Sars Rates Of Exchange". tools.sars.gov.za. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  143. ^ Lӧtter, Casper (4 September 2022). "Only South Africa's elite benefits from black economic empowerment -- and COVID-19 proved it". The Conversation. Retrieved 5 September 2022.

Further reading

edit

Reports

edit

Books

edit