Name: Zime

Surname: Dlamini

Student number: 219014730

POLS303 ESSAY

South Africa and the “9 wasted years debate”

South Africa has always been known to be faced with the possibilities of state capture since
the ANC and President Jacob Zuma took charge, this essay aims to discuss the notion of
state capture in the South African context by looking at the 9 wasted years debate.

Summary of the articles

State capture can be described as an idea that undermines state efficiency, especially with the
direct link between state takeover and corruption. The most important factor in national
conquest that expropriate a nation is its legitimacy, which is done through disregard for
governance systems and rules, leading to a lack of transparency and accountability within the
national structure. The article about South Africa’s 9 wasted year debate states that President
Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family raised the possibility that South Africa would face state
capture. However, many analysts believe that the concept of state capture has long been part
of the ruling party's negotiations in the ANC, that state capture is nothing new, and that the
ANC's openly proclaimed and deeply constitutional policy to facilitate state capture. It is
claimed that the policy was based on the parties' own political and ideological interests.(

Based on the empirical research in this article “South African State Capture: A Symbiotic
Affair between Business and State Going Bad”, South Africa's national politics are complex,
making it difficult to determine with certainty whether the South African country has been
conquered. It turns out that corporate influence in national politics is not unique to South
Africa, but a phenomenon seen in both emerging and mature democracies. , nearly the entire
planet has been taken over by corporations. Although the business nation issue is not a recent
development in South Africa, widespread coverage of its particular nature has been argued to
be fuelled by East-West struggles for business opportunities in South Africa and throughout
Africa. Afrocentric evidence from the case of South Africa suggests that state capture is
necessarily quicker and more effective when the party is on the side, or when prisoners
exercise power and influence over both entities.( Shai, K.B., 2017)

“Understanding the Phenomenon of State Capture and its Manifestation in South Africa”
The fact that state occupation has become a global threat in some countries, or the
phenomenon of state occupation in South Africa, was recognized at the beginning of the new
millennium as government misconduct, and in 2016 the South African political arena. We are
discussing what became prominent in Systemic political corruption can contribute to the
creation of poor governance in transitional democracies and exacerbate development
problems. State capture is called possessing elite corruption that affects wealth both
politically and administratively. As for corruption and state corruption practices, the paper
recommends that companies convicted of fraud or embezzlement should be blacklisted and
prosecuted.( Mamokhere, J., 2018)

Analysis shows that relations between South Africa's state and economy have been tainted by
business and political elites seeking patronage and rent in the distribution of state resources.
Civil society has played a fundamental role in the fight against corruption in state
corporations, mobilized nationwide protests and integrated democratic developing country
frameworks embedded in state social relations. Many people either took part in protests by
civil society groups and business forums that wanted to challenge the seizure of state
resources for the private benefit of the elite, or the mobilization process and subsequent
protests were also forced internally, leading to the ANC's state capture. And led to the
opposition of Zuma recall led as president. Furthermore this article, “Capturing South
Africa's developmental state: State society relations and responses to state capture”, the civil
society response to the state takeover has held states accountable and has had enormous
impact through protests, mobilizations and, as a last resort, the exercise of justice. The ability
of civil society to work with various political organizations opposing state captivity also
played a role. A fundamental role in institutionalizing the role of civil society in the South
Africa's young democracies(Khambule, I., 2021)
Analysis

Gathered from the articles above it has been made clear by all four that South Africa has
always been faced with possible state captures at the hands of the ANC, President Jacob
Zuma and the Gupta family. In my own views, South Africa was under state capture and
might still be because state capture is a form of corruption of authority that occurs when
political groups, policymakers, or regulators choose to serve the commercial, ideological, or
political interests of smaller constituencies, specific region or specific industry and in this
case it is the organization that has been meant to benefit from the state and its people.
( Khambule, I. B. (2020).)

The articles discussed also touch on the economic part of South Africa and how it has been
since the ANC and Zuma took charge, its stated that the creation of a labour aristocracy, the
beneficiary of the significant political support trade unions give to the ANC, makes job
creation for society as a whole very difficult,( Madonsela T. October, 2016). Rising
unemployment and lack of economic strength growth is one of the most important factors in
determining the destiny of South Africa's nation. South Africa, ANC-led country retreats,
country may collapse, the possibility of a civil war that cannot be overlooked, the likelihood
of a civil war breaking out is driven by factors such as shrinking manufacturing and mining
industries due to incompetence and corruption. The only sector that is still growing is the
public sector, where civil servants are highly paid and do little.

In my own views, the only viable solution for South Africa at the moment is the appointment
of a new government structure. South Africans can choose between an ANC government or a
modern industrial economy, but not both. Economic growth is neither conducive nor
sustainable in an environment dysfunctional by corruption, nepotism and greed. The ANC
has been in power for over two decades, but has failed miserably to effectively translate into
concrete solutions to many of the social problems the country faced in the post-apartheid era.
Instead, the ANC conflated the power of the state with the power of the people, escalating the
crisis as power concentrated within state government structures.

From the above, we can see that state capture goes deep into the core fabric of state. It also
shows that corruption has been institutionalized within the state and the ANC under the
leadership of President Jacob Zuma. This is reflected in the fact that Zuma appoints some of
his most loyal associates to strategic state agencies, with the aim of stifling the independence
of those agencies.( Pithouse, R. (2016)) The Premier League supports the ANC in exchange for
Zuma's support, and in return steals government resources. His close relationship with Gupta
was highlighted with great discontent. This family is shown to have systematically benefited
from Jacob Zuma's rule. In this dominance, their own private interests greatly influenced the
state's decision-making process.

With all of the above in mind, we must more effectively coordinate our anti-corruption and
state surveillance efforts in the state to expose and prosecute all forms of corruption. These
include corruption, collusion, and other criminal activities in the private sector, and must be
addressed with equal care and determination. A strong and efficient state law enforcement
agency is essential in combating corruption and crime in general, and in restoring the
integrity and legitimacy of the nation.( Msomi, S. 2016) In this regard, the African National
Congress is firm that national intelligence, police and law enforcement agencies are
empowered and should be empowered to act professionally without fear, favoritism or
prejudice. believe. believe. They must remain at the forefront of the fight against corruption
and government incarceration, and work with their communities to take decisive action
against criminal activity that threatens to tear them apart. (Hoffman 2018).

Conclusion

The essay above has discussed articles related to South Africa facing state capture in the
period where Jacob Zuma was president of the ANC and his affiliations with the Gupta
family, and furthermore analysed how the state capture can be dealt with and avoided.
REFERENCE LIST

 Joffe, H. (2016) ‘Strong reaction to ‘state capture’ means SA will not fall into
dysfunction
 Shai, K.B., 2017. South African state capture: A symbiotic affair between business and state
going bad (?). Insight on Africa, 9(1), pp.62-75.
 Mamokhere, J., 2018. Understanding the Phenomenon of State Capture and its Manifestation
in South Africa. Commonwealth Youth and Development, 16(2), pp.1-7.
 Khambule, I., 2021. Capturing South Africa's developmental state: State‐society relations and
responses to state capture. Public Administration and Development, 41(4), pp.169-179.
 Khambule, I. B. (2020). Consolidating South Africa's emerging democratic developmental
state from below. Strategic Review for Southern Africa, 42(2), 155–177
 Madonsela T. October, 2016. “State of Capture —A Report of the Public Protector.”

 Pithouse, R. (2016) Writing the Decline: On the Struggle for South Africa's Democracy,
Rhodes Publication: South Africa.
 Msomi, S. 2016. Rumbles of opposition but Zuma appears to be safe for now. Sunday Times,
20 March.