Understanding the Phenomenon of State Capture and its Manifestation in South Africa

Abstract

State capture has emerged as a global threat in several countries. This paper analyses the emergence of state capture in South Africa. It seeks to understand the phenomenon of state capture and how it has manifested in South Africa. Some scholars believe that state capture has been in existence since the 18th century as a form of colonialisation. The phenomenon of state capture in South Africa was recognised at the beginning of the new millennium as an irregularity in governance, but gained contemporaneousness in the South African political arena in 2016 during the administration of former President Jacob Zuma. In this paper, state capture is discussed as an aspect of systemic political corruption, implicated in causing poor governance in transitional democracies, with the potential of aggravating developmental problems. State capture is noted as ownership of elite corruption that influences wealth, both politically and administratively. State capture in a South African context manifests itself as a form of private lobbying and influence. To understand the phenomenon of state capture thoroughly, this article deployed a qualitative research approach in the form of content analysis (document review). Following thorough discussion, the paper recommends that firms and individuals, which are found guilty of such misconduct and misappropriation, must be blacklisted and should also face criminal charges in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act 12 of 2004.