Corruption in South Africa

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.{{cite journal|last1=Hyslop|first1=Jonathan|title=Political Corruption: Before and After Apartheid|journal=Journal of Southern African Studies|date=2005|volume=31|issue=4|pages=773–789|doi=10.1080/03057070500370555|s2cid=154559377}}{{dead link|date=March 2019}}

Before the abolition of Apartheid, the South African civil service was a pervasive medium for rent-seeking and the preferential treatment of Afrikaners. 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. 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. 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.{{cite journal|last1=Lukasiewicz!|first1=Mariusz|title=Still walking to freedom? A historical retrospective of the first 20 years of South African democracy|journal=Current Affairs in Perspectives|date=2014|issue=4|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280922579}} The presidency of Jacob Zuma following 2009 created an environment where corruption has flourished under the new leadership. 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.

[[File:South African Corruption perception graph 1995-2024.svg| thumb|400px| Perception of honesty in the South African public sector from 1995 to 2023. The higher the score, the more honest people perceive the public sector to be.

Source: Corruption Perceptions Index{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Corruptions Perceptions Index: South Africa |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021/index/zaf |access-date=29 April 2022 |agency=Transparency International|date=2021}} via SAIRR (Oct 2020){{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Free Facts: Corruption eats at South Africa's foundations |url=https://irr.org.za/reports/freefacts/files/00-2014-freefacts-2014-october-2020-draft-20-11-2020.pdf |access-date=29 April 2022 |agency=SAIRR|date=October 2020}}]]

In 2013, Afrobarometer found a substantial increase in the public's perception of corruption since 2008.{{cite journal|title=South Africans increasingly dissatisfied with their elected leaders' performance|journal=Afrobarometer|url=http://afrobarometer.org/sites/default/files/publications/Dispatches/ab_r6_dispatchno65_south_africa_leadership_performance_24112015.pdf|access-date=1 March 2018}} 66% of South Africans believed that the government could be doing more to curb corruption, compared to 56% elsewhere on the continent. South Africans' experience of first-hand corruption ranks among the least on a first-hand basis in Africa.{{Clarify|date=December 2021}} 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%.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021|reason=The citation in this paragraph does not back up these figures}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021|reason=The citation does not say anything about the reason that Zuma's popularity declined}} 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.

Transparency International's 2024 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 82nd among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.{{Cite web |title=The ABCs of the CPI: How the Corruption Perceptions Index is calculated |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/news/how-cpi-scores-are-calculated |date=11 February 2025 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Transparency.org|language=en}} 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 and 2024.{{Cite web |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: South Africa |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024/index/zaf |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Transparency.org |language=en}} For comparison with regional scores, the average score among sub-Saharan African countries{{refn| Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.|group="Note"}} was 33. The highest score in sub-Saharan Africa was 72 and the lowest score was 8.{{Cite web |title=CPI 2024 for Sub-Saharan Africa: Weak anti-corruption measures undermine climate action |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-sub-saharan-africa-weak-anti-corruption-measures-undermine-climate-action |date=11 February 2025 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Transparency.org |language=en}} For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).

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. 60.5% believed that the government was doing "very badly" at fighting corruption, and another 15.4% believed that it was doing "fairly badly."

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.{{Cite web |date=2013-02-14 |title='Local government the weakest link' |url=https://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/local-government-the-weakest-link/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Corruption Watch |language=en-GB}} 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."

{{Main|State capture#South Africa}}

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).{{cite web |title=State of Capture |url=https://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/4666/3f63a8b78d2b495d88f10ed060997f76.pdf |publisher=Public Protector}}State Capacity Research Group. 2017. "[https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Betrayal-of-the-Promise-25052017.pdf Betrayal of the Promise Report]." Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research InstituteChipkin, Ivor, and Mark Swilling, et al. 2018. Shadow State: The Politics of State Capture. Johannesburg: Wits University Press. The most notable incident of state capture is the Gupta family scandal (see section below).{{cite web |date=23 March 2016 |title=Zuma defends relationship with Guptas – report |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/zuma-defends-relationship-with-guptas-report-20160323 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204231504/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/zuma-defends-relationship-with-guptas-report-20160323 |archive-date=4 December 2019 |access-date=30 March 2016 |publisher=News24.com}} 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,{{Cite news |last=reporter |first=Citizen |title=R250bn lost to state capture in the last three years, says Gordhan |language=en |work=The Citizen |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/1651069/r250bn-lost-to-state-capture-in-the-last-three-years-says-gordhan/ |access-date=2017-11-29}} and reduce the country's GDP growth rate by an estimated 4% a year.{{Cite web |last=Maguban |first=Khulekani |date=2019-06-06 |title=Damage from state capture 'worse than suspected' - SARB |url=https://www.fin24.com/Economy/damage-from-state-capture-worse-than-suspected-sarb-20190606 |access-date=2019-07-29 |website=Fin24}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Mahlaka |first=Ray |date=2022-01-31 |title=YEARS OF ZUMA: Current and ex-Treasury officials: State Capture nearly destroyed South Africa |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-31-current-and-ex-treasury-officials-state-capture-nearly-destroyed-south-africa/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}

{{See also|Black Economic Empowerment#Corruption}}

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.

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.{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Ebrahim |date=2020-08-17 |title=Towards understanding ANC corruption in South Africa |url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/towards-understanding-anc-corruption-in-south-africa-2020-08-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301131430/https://www.polity.org.za/article/towards-understanding-anc-corruption-in-south-africa-2020-08-17 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |access-date=2022-01-10 |website=Polity |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mantell |first=Simon |date=2019-04-03 |title=BEE inadvertently became 'prime enabler of State Capture and corruption' in South Africa |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2019-04-03-bee-inadvertently-became-prime-enabler-of-state-capture-and-corruption-in-south-africa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403223526/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2019-04-03-bee-inadvertently-became-prime-enabler-of-state-capture-and-corruption-in-south-africa/ |archive-date=3 April 2019 |access-date=2019-10-17 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last1=Pike |first1=Angela |last2=Puchert |first2=Juliet |last3=Chinyamurindi |first3=Willie T. |date=2018 |title=Analysing the future of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment through the lens of small and medium enterprises |url=http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/acom/v18n1/13.pdf |journal=Acta Commercii |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=566 |doi=10.4102/ac.v18i1.566 |issn=1684-1999 |s2cid=67844509}} 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,{{Cite journal |title=Does Economic Restructuring during Covid-19 in South Africa amount to Disaster Capitalism? |journal=Phronimon |year=2022 |language=en |doi=10.25159/2413-3086/10503|last1=Lötter |first1=Casper |volume=23 |s2cid=252444612 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |last=Myburgh |first=Pieter-Louis |date=2021-02-09 |title=SCORPIO ANALYSIS: The ANC has broken its own black empowerment toolkit – and Ramaphosa government understands it |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-02-09-the-anc-has-broken-its-own-black-empowerment-toolkit-and-ramaphosa-government-understands-it/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ntingi |first=Andile |title=B-BBEE is buckling under pressure |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/finweek/b-bbee-is-buckling-under-pressure-20201210 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Fin24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last=Shava |first=Elvin |date=December 2016 |title=Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa: Challenges and Prospects |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314365036 |journal=Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=161–170 |doi=10.22610/jebs.v8i6(J).1490 |via=Research Gate|doi-access=free }} thereby fueling the growth of corruption within South Africa, reducing economic growth and increasing unemployment.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Carin |title=Moeletsi Mbeki: BEE and affirmative action are biggest drivers of corruption in SA |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/Economy/moeletsi-mbeki-bee-and-affirmative-action-are-biggest-drivers-of-corruption-in-sa-20210309 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Fin24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-06-06 |title=BBBEE road to an oligarchy – John Steenhuisen |url=https://www.biznews.com/thought-leaders/2022/06/06/steenhuisen-bbbee |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=BizNews.com |language=en-GB}} Moeletsi Mbeki has argued that BEE is the biggest driver of corruption in South Africa.

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.{{cite web |title=African National Congress National Consultative Conference |url=http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=134 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055527/http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=134 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=24 April 2018 |website=African National Congress}}

In June 2017, Netcare, a company which operates the largest private hospital network in South Africa, was accused of BEE fronting.{{cite web |title=Why BEE fronting is a bad idea – and won't be tolerated any longer |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/192632/why-bee-fronting-is-a-bad-idea-and-wont-be-tolerated-any-longer/ |website=Business Tech}} Since then, 17 other complaints have been filed against various South African companies regarding BEE fronting. Related to this is Cadre deployment and employment, which is an official ANC policy to colonize government with officials loyal to the ANC.

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.{{cite web|last1=van Vuuren|first1=Hennie|title=Extent and nature of petty corruption in South Africa|url=https://issafrica.org/01-sep-2004-sacq-no-9/small-bribes-big-challenge|website=Institute For Security Studies|access-date=24 April 2018}} One of the main issues highlighted by this survey is South Africans' lack of access to information regarding how to report corrupt acts. 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. Respondents of the survey were most likely to pay bribes to traffic officials, followed by police officers and officials in employment offices. These findings support the notion that the perception of corruption in local government departments such as traffic and municipal policing is high. 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. 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.

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.{{cite news|agency=Reuters|title=CORRECTS: Former South African president Jacob Zuma to be prosecuted on 16 charges of corruption|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/former-south-african-president-jacob-zuma-faces-corruption-charges/2018/03/16/f3f9439c-2929-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html?noredirect=on|access-date=24 April 2018}} 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. On 11 October 2019, a South African high court denied Zuma a motion to withdraw the recent criminal charges against him.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/zuma-to-stand-trial-corruption-charges-arms-deal-south-african-president|title=Zuma to stand trial on corruption charges relating to $2.5bn arms deal|first=Jason|last=Burke|work=The Guardian|date=11 October 2019|access-date=23 December 2020}} Zuma was imprisoned for refusing to give evidence to the Zondo Commission resulting in the July 2021 unrest.{{Cite web |title=S Africa violence spreads after Jacob Zuma jailed |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/12/violence-spreads-in-s-africa-after-jacob-zumas-jailing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712110018/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/12/violence-spreads-in-s-africa-after-jacob-zumas-jailing |archive-date=12 July 2021 |access-date=12 July 2021 |website=www.aljazeera.com}}{{Cite web |date=29 November 2021 |title=Report of the Expert Panel into the July 2021 Civil Unrest |url=https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/content/report-expert-panel-july-2021-civil-unrest |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=The Presidency of South Africa}}{{rp|52}}

{{Main|Nkandla homestead}}

The Nkandla homestead scandal involved the controversial, and possibly corrupt,{{Cite web |last=Vos |first=Pierre de |date=27 January 2013 |title=Nkandla: it depends on the definition of "corruption" » Constitutionally Speaking |url=https://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/nkandla-it-depends-on-the-definition-of-corruption/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |language=en}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=David |date=5 May 2014 |title=Burglars raped my wife, Jacob Zuma says as he defends home improvements |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/05/burglars-raped-wife-jacob-zuma-defends-home-improvements |access-date=24 April 2018 |website=The Guardian}} 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).{{Cite news |date=2016-04-01 |title=South Africa's Jacob Zuma 'sorry' over Nkandla scandal |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35943941 |access-date=2022-09-05}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Myre |first1=Greg |date=14 February 2018 |title=South Africa's Zuma Leaves Office As He Entered — Accused Of Corruption |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/02/14/584631829/s-africas-zuma-leaves-office-as-he-entered-accused-of-corruption}}

{{Main|Gupta family}}

File:Atul Gupta protest banner - Cape Town Zuma must fall.jpg. 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.

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.{{cite web|title=SA CONTINUES TO KEEP DUBIOUS COMPANY ON CPI|url=http://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/sa-continues-keep-dubious-company-cpi/|website=Corruption Watch|date=21 February 2018 |access-date=24 April 2018}} 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. 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. 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.{{cite web|last1=Joseph|first1=Josy|title=India's Bank of Baroda Played a Key Role in South Africa's Gupta Scandal|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/7696-india-s-bank-of-baroda-played-a-key-role-in-south-africa-s-gupta-scandal|website=The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project}} South African authorities are seeking to recover up to US$4.07 billion lost to these Gupta deals. 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. 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.{{cite web|last1=SHARIFE|first1=KHADIJA|title=Guptas, Big Banks Linked to South African-Chinese Locomotive Deal|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/7257-guptas-big-banks-linked-to-south-african-chinese-locomotive-deal|website=Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project}} An arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta was issued in February 2018.{{cite news|last1=Bonorchis|first1=Renee|title=How South Africa Is Cleaning House After Zuma's Eviction|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-23/how-south-africa-s-cleaning-house-after-zuma-eviction-quicktake|access-date=24 April 2018|agency=Bloomberg News}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/south-africa-faults-u-a-e-s-failure-to-cooperate-on-graft-fight-1.1615635|title=South Africa Faults U.A.E.'s Failure to Cooperate on Graft Fight|accessdate=11 June 2021|website=BNN Bloomberg|date=11 June 2021}} The Bank of Baroda played an important role in facilitating irregular financial transactions for the Guptas.

File:Russian President Vladimir Putin alongside South African President Jacob Zuma.jpg

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;{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Qaanitah |date=26 September 2014 |title=Jacob Zuma's secret nuke 'stitch-up' |url=https://amabhungane.org/stories/jacob-zumas-secret-nuke-stitch-up/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=amaBhungane |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Thamm |first=Marianne |date=2019-12-18 |title=ANALYSIS: How South Africans thwarted secret Putin/Zuma nuclear deal |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-12-19-how-south-africans-thwarted-secret-putin-zuma-nuclear-deal/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} both the Russian government and the Zuma administration were criticized for forcing through the deal by attempting to circumvent South Africa's procurement laws. 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.{{Cite news |date=2018-10-03 |title=South Africa's Zuma fired me for blocking Russian nuclear power deal: Nene |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-politics-finmin-idUSKCN1MD0TJ |access-date=2022-02-27}} The deal was cancelled by court order in April 2017.

{{See also|South African energy crisis}}

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.{{Cite news |date=2023-03-02 |title=Scandal at South Africa's Eskom: the CEO and the cyanide-laced coffee |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5fe8291d-9895-4272-9e0a-eefa279116f4 |access-date=2023-03-10}}{{Cite web |date=29 January 2023 |title=Sabotage at Eskom is rampant: report |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/660361/sabotage-at-eskom-is-rampant-report/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=Businesstech}} Corruption, particularity state capture, has also negatively impacted the construction and operation of new power plants, notably Medupi and Kusile.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-14 |title=Medupi fails two tests already |url=https://mg.co.za/business/2021-08-14-medupi-fails-two-tests-already/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite journal |last1=Tshidavhu |first1=Fhumulani |last2=Khatleli |first2=Nthatisi |date=2020 |title=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 |url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/actas/article/view/208209 |journal=Acta Structilia |language=en |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=126 |doi=10.18820/24150487/as27i1.5 |s2cid=225720389 |issn=2415-0487|doi-access=free }}

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.{{Cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=Eskom is the ANC's feeding trough — De Ruyter comes out guns blazing in interview |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/481189-eskom-is-the-ancs-feeding-trough-de-ruyter-comes-out-guns-blazing-in-interview.html |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=MyBroadband}}{{Cite web |last=Madia |first=Tshidi |title=ANC leaders upset by Andre de Ruyter's scathing criticism of the party |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/02/23/anc-leaders-upset-by-andre-de-ruyter-s-scathing-criticism-of-the-party |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}} De Ruyter went on to say that "load shedding is, to a large extent, attributable to crime and corruption" within Eskom.{{Cite news |last=Pilling |first=David |date=2023-03-02 |title=Scandal at South Africa's Eskom: the CEO and the cyanide-laced coffee |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5fe8291d-9895-4272-9e0a-eefa279116f4 |access-date=2023-03-08}}

In December 2024, global consulting firm Mckinsey was ordered to pay more than $122 million to resolve a U.S. investigation into a scheme in which officials at Eskom and Transnet were given bribes in exchange for non-public information about consulting contracts.{{cite web |title=McKinsey & Company Africa to Pay Over $122M in Connection with Bribery of South African Government Officials |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mckinsey-company-africa-pay-over-122m-connection-bribery-south-african-government-officials |website=US DOJ |access-date=5 February 2025}} According to the U.S. Department of Justice, "McKinsey Africa bribed South African officials in order to obtain lucrative consulting business that generated tens of millions of dollars in profits."

{{Main|South African Arms Deal}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Perlo-Freeman|first1=Samuel|title=The South African Arms Deal|url=https://sites.tufts.edu/corruptarmsdeals/2017/05/05/the-south-african-arms-deal/|website=World Peace Foundation|access-date=24 April 2018}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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.{{cite web|title=The 1998 Arms Deal / Strategic Defence Procurement Package|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rsa/arms-deal.htm|website=Global Security}} Various South African and international evidence teams have been investigating the arms deal since the early 2000s. 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{{cite web|title=WHAT IS THE SERITI COMMISSION?|url=http://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/what-is-the-seriti-commission/|website=Corruption Watch|date=21 January 2015|access-date=24 April 2018}} to investigate allegations of impropriety, fraud and corruption around the 1998 Arms Deal.

As of March 2018, Jacob Zuma has been facing 16 charges of corruption, money laundering, racketeering and fraud involving the 1998 Arms Deal.{{cite news|title=South Africa arms deal that landed Zuma in court: What you need to know|work=BBC News|date=6 April 2018|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43668243}} In total Zuma has been accused of accepting 783 illegal payments, including receiving bribes from a French Arms firm via his financial advisor. In April 2018, two months after resigning from office, Zuma was charged with graft by a national jury. On 11 October 2019, a South African high court upheld all 16 charges against Zuma. 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.{{cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/news/2021-07-12-constitutional-court-reserves-judgment-in-zumas-rescission-application-as-protests-in-his-name-shake-the-country/|title=Constitutional Court reserves judgment in Zuma case|first=Ernsie|last=Perreira|publisher=Mail & Guardian|date=12 July 2021|accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/07/13/concourt-reserves-judgment-in-zuma-s-rescission-bid|title=CONCOURT RESERVES JUDGMENT IN ZUMA'S RESCISSION BID|publisher=Eyewitness News|date=12 July 2021|accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/judgment-reserved-in-zumas-rescission-application/|title=Judgment reserved in Zuma's rescission application|publisher=SABC|date=12 July 2021|accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/concourt-reserves-judgment-on-jacob-zumas-bid-to-have-prison-sentence-rescinded-2ab6c794-9921-4355-a51d-11dfa1ad8f32|title=ConCourt reserves judgment on Jacob Zuma's bid to have prison sentence rescinded|first=Kailene|last=Palley|publisher=IOL|date=12 July 2021|accessdate=13 July 2021}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/20/south-african-court-postpones-zumas-corruption-trial-to-august|title=South African court postpones Zuma's corruption trial to August|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=20 July 2021|accessdate=20 July 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/zumas-corruption-trial-resume-august-092501967.html |title=Corruption trial of S.Africa's Zuma to resume August 10 |author=AFP |publisher=Yahoo News |date=20 July 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2021}} 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.{{rp|52}}

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,{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Tim |date=2022-12-21 |title=Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Development Foundation linked to EU scandal |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-21-iqbal-surves-sekunjalo-development-foundation-linked-to-organisation-at-centre-of-eu-corruption-scandal/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brussels to question ex-commissioner over Qatar scandal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/23f27ce6-b12e-4426-aea7-36c1b58cee76 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.ft.com}} the alleged bypassing of normal processes by Public Investment Corporation executives to receive public investments{{Cite web |last=Nicolson |first=Greg |date=14 February 2019 |title=Inquiry witnesses receive death threats |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-02-14-inquiry-witnesses-receive-death-threats/ |access-date=2019-02-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} and failed repayments on the investments,{{Cite web |last=Paton |first=Carol |date=Nov 1, 2018 |title=Iqbal Surve fails to make debt repayment to PIC |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/2018-11-01-iqbal-surve-fails-to-make-debt-repayment-to-pic/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=BusinessLIVE |language=en-ZA}} to allegedly problematic payments to various South African politicians.{{Cite web |last=Maughan |first=Karyn |title=How Iqbal Survé's companies paid Niehaus, Pandor's daughter, ANC MPs – and explained it away |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/how-iqbal-surves-companies-paid-niehaus-pandors-daughter-anc-mps-and-explained-it-away-20231220 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

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| quote = "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."

| author = - Steve Friedman, Center for Policy Studies (1996){{Cite news |last=Daley |first=Suzanne |date=1996-10-08 |title=South Africa Scandal Over 'Sarafina' Spotlights Corruption in the A.N.C. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/08/world/south-africa-scandal-over-sarafina-spotlights-corruption-in-the-anc.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |issn=0362-4331}}

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• 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.{{Cite book |last=Meredith |first=Martin |title=Mandela: A biography. |publisher=Simon and Schuster. |year=2010 |isbn=978-0679781783}} Despite efforts by the ANC government to clear instances of misappropriation{{Cite book |last=Meredith |first=Martin |title=Mandela: A biography |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2010}} Boesak was found guilty of stealing R332,000 in 1999 and convicted.{{Cite web |date=1999-03-17 |title=Allan Boesak convicted |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1999-03-17-allan-boesak-convicted/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
• 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.{{Cite news |last=Daley |first=Suzanne |date=1996-10-08 |title=South Africa Scandal Over 'Sarafina' Spotlights Corruption in the A.N.C. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/08/world/south-africa-scandal-over-sarafina-spotlights-corruption-in-the-anc.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |issn=0362-4331}}
• 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.
• 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.{{Cite book |last=Mkhabela |first=Mpumelelo |title=The Enemy Within |publisher=Tafelberg |year=2022 |isbn=9780624091226 |pages=12–13 |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=SAPA - 30 Aug 96 - HOLOMISA HAD NO RESPECT FOR THE ANC: ANC JUDGMENT |url=https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/media/1996/9608/s960830b.htm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=www.justice.gov.za}}
• 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. Then presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj was implicated in the bribery scandal when investigated by the Scorpions in 2003.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-05 |title=Unearthing a buried trail of lies of Mac Maharaj's relationship with Shaik |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-10-05-unearthing-a-buried-trail-of-lies-of-mac-maharajs-relationship-with-shaik/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

• 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.{{Cite web |title=Abe Williams to start 3-yr jail term on Saturday |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/abe-williams-to-start-3-yr-jail-term-on-saturday-20000907 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2001-09-25 |title=Abe Williams walks after serving a year |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2001-09-26-abe-williams-walks-after-serving-a-year/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
• 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.{{Cite web |title=South Africa to investigate 'Oilgate' scandal |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/africa/south-africa-to-investigate-oilgate-scandal-1.289856 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=gulfnews.com |date=4 June 2005 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=PetroSA still hurting after Oilgate taint |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/petrosa-still-hurting-after-oilgate-taint-251689 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}} The Mail & Guardian newspaper was controversially gagged by the courts from publishing a report on the scandal following the election.{{Cite web |date=2005-05-27 |title=Court gag on South Africa 'oilgate' report |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/28/southafrica.oil |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
• 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. 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.{{cite news |date=30 November 2009 |title=Yengeni cop found guilty |agency=News24 |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Yengeni-cop-found-guilty-20091130}}
• 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".{{Cite web|date=2011-09-16|title=Charlton v Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (680/2010) [2011]|url=http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZASCA/2011/132.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-13|website=SAFLII|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705013225/http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZASCA/2011/132.html |archive-date=5 July 2020 }} Dingani was himself was terminated for fraud.{{Cite web|date=2005-01-24|title=40 accused in South African MPs' fraud case|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/24/southafrica.andrewmeldrum|access-date=2021-12-13|website=the Guardian|language=en}}
• 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.{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Karen|title=Fifa corruption claims: South Africa 'agreed $10m deal'|work=BBC News|date=8 June 2015|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33041776|access-date=24 April 2018}}

• 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.{{cite news|title=South Africa ex-police head Selebi guilty of corruption|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10485558|agency=BBC News 2}}
• 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{{cite web |date=31 May 2013 |title='Guptas' farm cash cows in Free State |url=http://amabhungane.co.za/article/2013-05-31-guptas-farm-cash-cows-in-free-state |access-date=28 January 2018 |publisher=amaBhungane |archive-date=29 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140526/http://amabhungane.co.za/article/2013-05-31-guptas-farm-cash-cows-in-free-state |url-status=dead }} and Free State provincial premier Ace Magashule were implicated in the theft of almost all the project's funds.{{cite news |last=Bateman |first=Barry |date=25 January 2018 |title=Hawks Raid FS Premier's Office Over Gupta-linked Vrede Dairy Farm |publisher=Eyewitness News |url=http://ewn.co.za/2018/01/26/hawks-raid-fs-premier-s-office-over-gupta-linked-vrede-dairy}}
• National secretary general of the ANC, Ace Magashule, was suspended from his position {{cite web |last1=Letshwiti-Jones |first1=Pule |last2=Hunter |first2=Qaanitah |date=5 May 2021 |title=ANC suspends secretary-general Ace Magashule |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/breaking-anc-suspends-secretary-general-ace-magashule-20210505 |access-date=6 May 2021 |publisher=News24}} and arrested on 21 charges of corruption{{cite news |last=Hamill |first=James |date=1 December 2020 |title=A Ruling Party Official's Arrest Boosts South Africa's Fight Against Corruption |publisher=World Politics Review |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/29255/in-south-africa-corruption-fight-gets-a-boost-from-arrest-of-anc-boss |access-date=23 December 2020}} for his involvement in a 2014 corruption scandal that took place whilst he was Premier of the Free State.{{Cite web |last=Myburgh |first=Pieter-Louis |date=2020-11-10 |title=Arrest warrant issued for ANC SG Ace Magashule over Free State asbestos saga |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-11-10-arrest-warrant-issued-for-anc-sg-ace-magashule-over-free-state-asbestos-saga/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110114052/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-11-10-arrest-warrant-issued-for-anc-sg-ace-magashule-over-free-state-asbestos-saga/ |archive-date=10 November 2020 |access-date=2021-12-17 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} The R255 million contact to remove asbestos from public housing in the province was awarded to Blackhead Consulting that in turn made numerous payments to third parties at Magashule's instruction or with his knowledge.{{Cite web |last=Nicolson |first=Greg |date=2021-12-12 |title=Ace Magashule's R255m case 'bears hallmarks of corruption', says Free State prosecuting authority |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-12-12-ace-magashules-r255m-case-bears-hallmarks-of-corruption-says-free-state-prosecuting-authority/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212212416/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-12-12-ace-magashules-r255m-case-bears-hallmarks-of-corruption-says-free-state-prosecuting-authority/ |archive-date=12 December 2021 |access-date=2021-12-17 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}
• In 2015 the German offices of the South African based private company Steinhoff International were raided.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-06 |title=Not possible to say when Steinhoff probe will end – German prosecutors |url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/companies-and-deals/not-possible-to-say-when-steinhoff-probe-will-end-german-prosecutors/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Moneyweb |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Steven |date=2017-12-14 |title=South Africa's fraught race relations are laid bare in the Steinhoff corporate fraud scandal |url=https://qz.com/africa/1156096/south-africas-fraught-race-relations-have-been-laid-bare-in-the-steinhoff-corporate-fraud-scandal/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Quartz |language=en}} This publicly exposed one of the biggest cases of "corporate fraud in South Africa's history"{{Cite web |date=2022-08-26 |title=Former Steinhoff CFO fined, banned from directing a listed company for the next decade |url=https://mg.co.za/business/2022-08-26-former-steinhoff-cfo-fined-banned-from-directing-a-listed-company-for-the-next-decade/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} implicating Steinhoff's South African CEO Markus Jooste.{{Cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Tevya |date=2022-09-23 |title=WHAT WE'RE WATCHING : 'Steinheist' — scrutinising and dramatising South Africa's biggest corporate scam |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-09-23-steinheist-scrutinising-and-dramatising-south-africas-biggest-corporate-scam/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}
• The collapse of the VBS Mutual Bank in 2018 due to fraud and corruption created a scandal that implicated municipalities,{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2018-10-23-no-bailout-for-municipalities-who-ploughed-cash-into-vbs-mutual-bank/|title=No bailout for municipalities who ploughed cash into VBS Mutual Bank|last=Makinana|first=Andisiwe|date=23 October 2018|work=TimesLive|access-date=2018-10-28|language=en-US}} the ANC,{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/anc-limpopo-to-hold-emergency-meeting-over-vbs-20181011#cxrecs_s|title=ANC Limpopo to hold emergency meeting over VBS|last=Madia|first=Tshidi|date=11 October 2018|publisher=News24}} and the Economic Freedom Fighters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-10-11-the-shivambu-brothers-and-the-great-vbs-heist/|title=The Shivambu Brothers and the Great VBS Heist|last=Van Wyk|first=Pauli|date=11 October 2018|work=Daily Maverick|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en-US}}
• 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.{{Cite web |last=Cilliers |first=Charles |date=2019-09-15 |title=Gavin Watson was already dead before his crash, private pathologist finds |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/gavin-watson-was-already-dead-before-his-crash-private-pathologist-finds/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cowan |first=Kyle |title=Gavin Watson's death: 7 key unanswered questions |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/gavin-watsons-death-7-key-unanswered-questions-20190918 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Killing of Cloete and Thomas Murray deeply concerning - FUL - POLITICS {{!}} Politicsweb |url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/killing-of-cloete-and-thomas-murray-concerning--fu |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=www.politicsweb.co.za |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-03-19 |title=Cloete Murray: South African corruption investigator shot dead |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65007942 |access-date=2023-03-24}}

• The emergence of a “rogue unit” within the Western Cape Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service (SAPS) resulting in the murder of investigating officer Charl Kinnear in 2020.{{Cite web|last=Thamm|first=Marianne|date=2021-11-12|title=IPID REPORT ON POLICE ANALYSIS: SAPS threw Charl Kinnear to the wolves|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-12-saps-threw-charl-kinnear-to-the-wolves/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}
• Corruption within the Gauteng Provincial Government Department of Health resulting in the 2021 murder of Babita Deokaran.{{Cite web|last=Bhengu|first=Lwandile|title=Seven people arrested for murder of Gauteng health dept official Babita Deokaran|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/breaking-7-people-arrested-for-murder-of-babita-deokaran-20210827|access-date=2021-09-04|website=News24|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Cruywagen|first=Vincent|date=2021-08-28|title=DM168 AGE OF THE ASSASSIN: Slain whistle-blower Babita Deokaran potentially unveiled a criminal syndicate at the Department of Health|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-28-slain-whistle-blower-babita-deokaran-potentially-unveiled-a-criminal-syndicate-at-the-department-of-health/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}
• Digital Vibes scandal involving Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize awarding a large COVID-19 communications tender to family members.{{Cite web |last=Aweh |first=Politically |date=2022-05-22 |title=POLITICALLY AWEH (VIDEO): SA government's Covid-19 management in the crosshairs |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-22-sa-governments-covid-19-management-in-the-crosshairs/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}

Government initiatives against corruption are coordinated by the Department of Public Service and Administration.{{cite web|title=Welcome to the official South African government online site! - South African Government|url=https://www.gov.za/|website=South African Government}} The Public Protector also plays a role in fighting corruption. A disbanded independent anti-corruption unit named the Scorpions was replaced by the Hawks.{{cite web|date=11 September 2012|title=SWITCHING SCORPIONS' CASES TO HAWKS|url=http://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/switching-scorpions-cases-to-hawks/|access-date=24 April 2018|website=Corruption Watch}} South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, was designed to target organized crime, economic crime and corruption. The group was established by the Zuma administration in 2008. 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.{{cite journal|last1=van Vuuren|first1=Hennie|title=South Africa: Democracy, Corruption and Conflict Management|url=http://www.cde.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/democracy-works---south-africa-conference-paper---democracy-corruption-and-conflict-management---by-hennie-van-vuuren-pdf-.pdf|url-status=dead|journal=Democracy Works|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222102337/http://www.cde.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/democracy-works---south-africa-conference-paper---democracy-corruption-and-conflict-management---by-hennie-van-vuuren-pdf-.pdf|archive-date=22 February 2016|access-date=24 April 2018}} This act especially condemns bribery, extortion, abuse of power and money laundering while obliging public officials to report corruption offences. Like many corruption regulations in South Africa, the PCCA is poorly implemented and the Act does not include any protection measures for whistle-blowers.

The National Anti-Corruption Forum provides an online guide to the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act (PCCA). Other acts like the Promotion of Access to Information Act calls for an increased access to public information.{{cite journal|last1=Naidoo|first1=Vinothan|title=The politics of anti-corruption enforcement in South Africa|url=http://paperroom.ipsa.org/app/webroot/papers/paper_10573.pdf|url-status=dead|journal=Journal of Contemporary African Studies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505205821/http://paperroom.ipsa.org/app/webroot/papers/paper_10573.pdf|archive-date=2018-05-05|access-date=2018-05-05}} 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. 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.

Despite these efforts perceptions of the growth of corruption in South Africa continued to increase and deepen in 2023 and 2024{{Cite web |last=Erasmus |first=Des |date=2024-02-01 |title=Corruption in South Africa is ‘more entrenched’ |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2024-02-01-corruption-in-south-africa-is-more-entrenched/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |last=Pongweni |first=Takudzwa |date=2024-01-30 |title=South Africa records its lowest score on Corruption Perceptions Index, drops below global average |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-30-sa-records-its-lowest-score-on-corruption-perceptions-index-drops-below-global-average/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Thorne |first=Seth |date=30 January 2024 |title=South Africa seen as more corrupt than ever before |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/746597/south-africa-seen-as-more-corrupt-than-ever-before/}} with the country's Corruption Perceptions Index dropping below the global average for the first time.

{{See also|Zondo Commission}}

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,{{Cite web|title=President for sale: Watsons 'bought Zuma for R300k a month'|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2019-01-20-president-for-sale-watsons-bought-zuma-for-r300k-a-month/|access-date=2019-02-04|website=www.timeslive.co.za|language=en}} Bain & Company,{{Cite web|last=Nicolson|first=Greg|date=2021-03-23|title=DAYS OF ZONDO: Bain & Co planned to work with Zuma to 'reshape SA economy', says former partner Athol Williams|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-03-23-bain-co-planned-to-work-with-zuma-to-reshape-sa-economy-says-former-partner-athol-williams/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Zondo inquiry may force Bain to answer questions|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2021-03-23-state-capture-inquiry-questions-if-bain-is-prepared-to-testify/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=BusinessLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=Bain's role in dismantling Sars|url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/bains-role-in-dismantling-sars/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Moneyweb|language=en}} the Gupta family and associates of former President Zuma.{{Cite web|last=Smit|first=Sarah|date=27 November 2018|title=Zondo commission: 'What did the ANC do?'|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-11-27-zondo-commission-what-did-the-anc-do/|access-date=2019-02-04|website=The M&G Online|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Ritchie|first=Gemma|date=3 February 2019|title=Corruption memo to Ramaphosa a foreign embassy faux pas — Dirco|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-02-03-00-corruption-memo-to-ramaphosa-a-foreign-embassy-faux-pas-dirco/|access-date=2019-02-04|website=The M&G Online|language=en}} The South African government responded that it was disappointed by the memorandum not following "acceptable" diplomatic practices.{{Cite web|title=Dirco notes with 'disappointment' foreign ambassadors' joint memo on corruption|url=https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/dirco-notes-with-disappointment-foreign-ambassadors-joint-memo-on-corruption/ar-BBT6Qb7|access-date=2019-02-04|website=MSN|language=en-ZA}} The Zondo Commission's findings in 2022 exposed widespread corruption.{{Cite news |last=Chutel |first=Lynsey |date=2022-06-23 |title=South Africa’s Corruption Inquiry Leaves Few of the Nation’s Powerful Unscathed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/world/africa/south-africa-corruption-jacob-zuma-cyril-ramaphosa.html |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |date=2022-06-23 |title=South Africa's Zondo commission: Damning report exposes rampant corruption |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61912737 |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In 2020, South Africa saw multiple high-profile corruption arrests, including former Mangaung mayor Olly Mlamleli{{cite news |last=Tandwa |first=Lizeka |date=30 September 2020 |title=Free State asbestos case: Ousted Mangaung mayor among those arrested, ANC to have urgent meeting |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/free-state-asbestos-case-ousted-mangaung-mayor-among-those-arrested-anc-to-have-urgent-meeting-20200930 |access-date=25 December 2020 |publisher=News 24}} and two senior police officials: Lieutenant-Generals Khomotso Phahlane{{cite news |last=Thamm |first=Marianne |date=30 July 2020 |title=Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane sacked |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-07-30-former-acting-national-police-commissioner-khomotso-phahlane-sacked/ |access-date=24 December 2020 |publisher=Daily Maverick}} and Bonang Mgwenya.{{cite news |last=Thamm |first=Marianne |date=12 October 2020 |title=SA's second most senior cop, Lieutenant-General Bonang Mgwenya, appears on corruption charges for dodgy tenders |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-12-sas-second-most-senior-cop-lieutenant-general-bonang-mgwenya-appears-on-corruption-charges-for-dodgy-tenders/ |access-date=24 December 2020 |publisher=Daily Maverick}} Numerous other officials, including SAPS officers{{cite news |last=Nombemde |first=Philani |date=23 December 2020 |title=Cape Town border control police officers arrested for 'business robbery' |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-12-23-cape-town-border-control-police-officers-arrested-for-business-robbery/ |access-date=25 December 2020 |publisher=Sunday Times}}{{cite news |last=Richardson |first=Paul |date=4 June 2020 |title=Top South African Police Officers Arrested in Graft Crackdown |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-04/top-south-african-police-officers-arrested-in-graft-crackdown#:~:text=South%20African%20authorities%20arrested%2015,revamping%20the%20law%20enforcement%20services. |access-date=25 December 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg News}} and government employees, were also arrested on corruption charges throughout the year. The cases extended to prominent figures like ANC MP Bongani Bongo and former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi.{{cite news |date=December 4, 2020 |title=Zondo sets down new dates for Zuma to appear at commission |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2020-12-04-zondo-sets-down-new-dates-for-zuma-to-appear-at-commission/ |access-date=December 23, 2020 |publisher=Business Live}} The Auditor-General reported R488.14 billion{{Cite web |last=Heywood |first=Mark |date=2022-01-16 |title=PROCUREMENT PROFLIGACY: No consequence: The accumulated irregular expenditure reaches R488-billion |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-01-17-no-consequence-the-accumulated-irregular-expenditure-reaches-r488-billion/ |access-date=2022-01-17 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} (US$34.28 billion){{Cite web |title=Sars Rates Of Exchange |url=https://tools.sars.gov.za/rex/Rates/Default.aspx |access-date=2022-01-17 |website=tools.sars.gov.za}} in questionable government spending for 2020/21, with 66% of COVID-19 PPE procurement funds lost to corruption.{{Cite web |last=Lӧtter |first=Casper |date=4 September 2022 |title=Only South Africa's elite benefits from black economic empowerment -- and COVID-19 proved it |url=http://theconversation.com/only-south-africas-elite-benefits-from-black-economic-empowerment-and-covid-19-proved-it-189596 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}

{{reflist|group=Note}}

• International Anti-Corruption Academy
• Group of States Against Corruption
• International Anti-Corruption Day
• ISO 37001 Anti-bribery management systems
• United Nations Convention against Corruption
• OECD Anti-Bribery Convention
• Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State

{{Reflist}}

• How to Steal a Country (2019), Documentary

• [https://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/south-africa/ South Africa Corruption Report]
• [https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-08-08-bribery-tops-list-of-corrupt-activities-in-sa/ Bribery tops list of corrupt activities in SA]
• [https://www.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/lessons-for-south-africas-soes-from-other-african-countries-20181120 Lessons for South Africa's SOEs from other African countries]
• [http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/170725No-Room-to-Hide.pdf ‘No Room To Hide: A President Caught in the Act’] Report by Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse
• [https://outa.co.za/projects/state-capture State Capture Portfolio] Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse State Capture Portfolio

• Mkhabela, Mpumelelo (2022). The Enemy Within. Tafelberg. {{isbn|9780624091226}}
• Williams, Athol (2021). Deep Collusion: Bain and the capture of South Africa. Tafelberg. {{isbn|9780624091998}}
• Blackman, Matthew & Dall, Nick (2021). Rogues’ Gallery: An Irreverent History of Corruption in South Africa, from the VOC to the ANC. Penguin Random House (SA), {{isbn|978-1776095902}}
• Myburgh, Pieter-Louis (2019). Gangster State, The Penguin Group (SA), {{isbn|9781776093748}}
• Pauw, Jacques (2017). The President's Keepers. NB Publishers. {{isbn|9780624083030}}
• Basson, Adriaan & du Toit, Pieter (2017). Enemy of the People, Jonathan Ball Publishers, {{isbn|9781868428182}}
• Myburgh, Pieter-Louis (2017). The Republic of Gupta, Penguin Books, {{isbn|978-1-77609-089-1}}
• Olver, Crispian (2017). How to Steal a City, Jonathan Ball Publishers, {{isbn|978-1-86842-820-5}}
• Feinstein, Andrew (2007). After the Party, Jonathan Ball Publishers, {{isbn|978-1868422623}}

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