South Africa now a mafia state

North West University Political analyst, Professor Andre Duvenhage, says South Africa qualifies as a mafia state, as it is difficult to differentiate between the political and criminal elites.

Duvenhage shared his views during an ENCA interview amidst the Madlanga Commission hearings into criminality, political interference and corruption in the Criminal Justice System.

The commission was set up following serious allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi implicated numerous high-ranking police officers, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, in having ties to criminal syndicates.

Initial evidence suggests that powerful criminal syndicates have infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system.

There are also allegations that police investigations, particularly those involving sensitive political issues, have been suppressed, manipulated, or diverted.

It further suggests that high-ranking police officers and influential politicians have colluded, failed to act, and benefited from criminal interference.

Commenting on these events, Duvenhage said South Africa can now be categorised as a mafia state, or criminal state, based on objective criteria.

He explained that a criminal state is where crime is rife and organised crime has reached a level where it is difficult to distinguish between the political and criminal elite.

“The classic differentiation between a normal state and a mafia state is where you cannot clearly differentiate between the political and criminal elite,” he said.

“In the South African context, there is a long history of evidence, which includes academic research, that this differentiation does not exist.”

He said the Madlanga Commission and Mkhwanazi’s comments show the strong links between ANC politicians in the government and people connected to criminal activities.

He added that the Zondo Commission, which investigated allegations of state capture in South Africa, also showed strong links between the political and criminal elite.

“You will find the same evidence at the Moerane Commission, which investigated political assassinations, and the Seriti Commission, which looked at the arms deal,” he said.

“There is now clear evidence that South Africa qualifies to be regarded as a mafia state according to traditional and established criteria.”

Complete lack of action regarding criminality within the state

Despite overwhelming evidence of state capture and senior government officials being involved in corruption, not a single top politician has been successfully prosecuted.

Duvenhage said there was virtually no reaction from the criminal justice system despite promises from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He stated that there is a complete lack of action regarding criminality within the state and among the political elite, which is problematic.

The lack of action from the police and the deterioration of South Africa’s criminal justice system have seen crime explode across the country.

The Globalised Organised Crime Index ranks South Africa as the seventh worst country in terms of criminality scores.

South Africa is in the company of Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, which shows how big a problem criminality is in the country.

Duvenhage said the South African state is not competent enough to fulfil its core function of creating security, stability, and order.

“The South African police departments and the whole criminal justice system in the country are dysfunctional,” he said.

“One figure which shows this dysfunction is that only one out of every 100 murders is successfully prosecuted.”

Globalised Organised Crime Index ranking