Daily Maverick review: Caryn Dolley’s book on South Africa’s criminal networks
In her book The Untouchables, journalist Caryn Dolley examines possible links between international drug traffickers, Cape Town gangs, police officers, officials, businesspeople and politicians in the Republic of South Africa. A Daily Maverick review notes that the author spent more than two decades tracking murders, criminal groups, investigations and allegations of corruption.
The book’s central argument is that, according to Dolley’s observations, organised crime in South Africa may be closely intertwined with legitimate business, the law-enforcement system, politics and everyday life. The author traces drug-trafficking routes and links between people implicated in cases in Cape Town and Gauteng, as well as in India, Kenya, Serbia and Australia.
Claims about a cartel
Dolley pays particular attention to public statements by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He claimed that a cartel linked to drug trafficking had infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system, politics and the private security sector. Among those mentioned by Mkhwanazi in his statements was then police minister Senzo Mchunu, who denies wrongdoing.
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Mkhwanazi called the group the Big Five. He claimed that it may have brought together criminals, intermediaries and possibly compromised officials capable of influencing investigations, protecting certain suspects and directing state structures against others. The review stresses that these claims remain allegations, while Dolley records denials and distinguishes between confirmed information, assumptions and assertions that still require proof.
Murders and investigations
The book mentions the murder of police detective Charl Kinnear, who had detailed information on investigations into police officers suspected of facilitating firearm licence applications for criminals. Dolley writes that Kinnear’s murder meant the end of these investigations.
The author also cites claims about the possible infiltration of the 28s gang into the police and threats against prosecutors in the Western Cape province. She describes cases of obstruction of investigations, disappearance of evidence, destruction of cases, and murders of witnesses or key figures.
