Daily Maverick author links corruption in South Africa to organised crime
In South Africa, the Madlanga Commission has shifted the discussion on large-scale corruption by bringing to the forefront its links with organised crime, rather than focusing solely on political “state capture”. This assessment was made by Public Policy Research Institute researcher Wasim Holland in a column for Daily Maverick.
From state capture to criminal networks
The author compares the work of the Madlanga Commission with the earlier Zondo Commission, which examined corruption schemes involving former president Jacob Zuma, the Gupta brothers and their associates. According to Holland, the concept of “state capture” helped unite the public against large-scale corruption, but may also have shifted the focus toward the political dimension of the phenomenon.
As the author notes, both commissions revealed links between senior officials, bureaucrats, representatives of law enforcement agencies, security services and intelligence. In his description, these networks also included people connected to organised crime and the criminal underworld.
Corruption in security agencies
Holland writes that procurement fraud and tender manipulation, as well as corruption in law enforcement structures, occupy a significant place in the work of the Madlanga Commission. He describes close personal ties between senior officials in the law enforcement and security sectors and criminal figures, suspected drug traffickers and well-known tobacco smugglers.
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According to the author’s account, such criminal figures were allegedly accused of organising thefts of cocaine from large seized drug consignments, kidnappings, torture and extortion. Holland believes these circumstances provide grounds for viewing corrupt practices primarily as criminal activity.
An example from the Zuma and Gupta era
As an example of complex schemes, the author cites the Regiments-Trillian case, which involved McKinsey, Transnet and the procurement of freight locomotives. According to his description, the cost of the procurement increased by 16 billion rand compared with the initial estimates, which, in the author’s view, became the basis for kickbacks.
Holland believes that the Madlanga Commission’s approach could provide impetus for reforming law enforcement agencies and state institutions. He also warns against attempts to give corruption political or ideological legitimacy.
