South Africa now categorised as a mafia state

Political analyst from the North West University, Professor Andre Duvenhage, says South Africa now qualifies as a mafia state.

South Africa has been battling corruption, kidnappings, political killings, and extortion for many years, and the situation is getting worse.

Organised criminal networks have entrenched themselves in multiple industries across South Africa, including construction, transport, township businesses, mining, and nightlife.

Between April 2019 and March 2024, 6,056 extortion cases were reported in South Africa. Despite 2,389 arrests, there were only 178 convictions.

These low conviction rates are caused by the lack of skills in the criminal justice system and corruption within law enforcement agencies.

KwaZulu-Natal Province Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed that criminal syndicates are corrupting law enforcement from within.

He claimed that these criminal syndicates involve politicians, police officials, prosecutors, businesspeople, and even elements of the judiciary.

He further alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu ordered the disbandment of a critical investigative unit which had been probing politically motivated killings.

Around 121 case dockets were reportedly removed in early 2025, purportedly to shield politically connected individuals.

He also accused Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of obstructing justice by stalling investigations and hoarding crucial case files.

Mkhwanazi said unqualified individuals have been placed in crucial roles within crime intelligence, compromising investigations.

He argued that these placements are part of a scheme to destabilise police leadership and suppress exposure of corruption.

These accusations have raised concerns that South Africa is becoming a mafia state, where the structures of government are captured and run in the interests of criminal networks.

It includes collusion between state officials and organised crime, as well as the use of government agencies to extort, protect, and enable illegal activities.

Professor Andre Duvenhage says South Africa is a mafia state

Professor Andre Duvenhage told Newzroom Africa that South Africa qualifies as a mafia state based on objective criteria.

He explained that a mafia state, or 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.

He explained that most countries have organised crime. However, when it becomes politicised, it reaches a new level.

South Africa has a weak state and strong organised crime. This combination is bad news for a country and can create a mafia state.

He said South Africa’s government has been involved in numerous crime scandals, including the arms deal, the oil deal scandal, the Nkandla debacle, and state capture.

“There was virtually no reaction from the criminal justice system despite promises from President Cyril Ramaphosa,” he said.

He said there is a complete lack of action related to criminality within the state and the political elite, which is problematic.

“My research using the criteria of a mafia state shows that South Africa qualifies to be categorised as a mafia state,” he said.

This aligns with the Globalised Organised Crime Index, ranking South Africa as the seventh worst country on 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