The erosion of democracy in SA

AS WE mark the International Day of Democracy on Monday, we cannot ignore that South Africa's democratic project is under siege.

- PROFESSOR DERICA LAMBRECHTS

Not by foreign invaders or ideological extremists, but by a growing network of organised criminal actors embedded in every layer of society. From mafia-style extortion rackets to state-sponsored corruption, the country is witnessing the rise of what scholars term “uncivil society”: a shadow world of actors who systematically undermine democratic ideals and state legitimacy.

This is not just a theoretical concern. According to the Global Organized Crime Index 2023, South Africa ranks third in Africa and seventh globally for criminality, with a score of 7.18 out of 10. This isn’t just a number, it’s a warning. It signals a country where criminal markets flourish, state institutions falter, and the rule of law is increasingly optional.

Organised crime in South Africa is not confined to back alleys or remote provinces. It is deeply entrenched in the state itself. We are all familiar with the Zondo Commission's revelations about state capture under former President Jacob Zuma: how politically connected individuals manipulated state-owned enterprises and regulatory bodies for personal gain.