The State Capacity Research Project today released a new report, How One Word Can Change The Game: A Case Study Of State Capture And The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which provides a rare detailed example of the mechanics and modus operandi of state capture.
Critically, it demonstrates that South Africa’s shadow state consists of more than just the Guptas, and that the state capture project extends far beyond just state-owned enterprises, infecting some of the most crucial functions of government. The report illustrates that state capture is not just a form of ‘grand corruption’ resulting in a financial loss to the state and taxpayer, but it is a political project that has had a direct negative impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in society.
