State Capture Report Shows R11bn Recovered, Major Reforms Underway

The report, submitted to Parliament and covering developments up to Quarter 4 of the 2024/25 financial year, marks a crucial milestone in the post-Zondo era.

The Presidency of South Africa has released its latest progress report on the implementation of actions arising from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s official response to the State Capture Commission recommendations, detailing extensive progress in the fight against corruption, recovery of public funds, and reform of key state institutions.

The report, submitted to Parliament and covering developments up to Quarter 4 of the 2024/25 financial year, marks a crucial milestone in the post-Zondo era. Out of 60 actions outlined in the President’s October 2022 response plan, 48% have been completed or are substantially complete, 23% are on track, and 29% are delayed but under active review.

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Criminal Justice and Accountability: High-Profile Trials Imminent

At the heart of the report is the momentum in criminal justice efforts. The Integrated Task Force, led by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is implementing 218 criminal investigation recommendations that emerged from the State Capture Commission. By March 2025, 21% of these cases were finalised or enrolled for trial, while over 50% were under active investigation.

High-profile trials are expected through 2025 and 2026, including those involving:

• Free State Asbestos Removal Scandal

• SA Express procurement irregularities

• Bosasa corruption network

• Transnet contracts linked to Gupta-era deals

Notably, four state capture-related trials have already concluded with guilty verdicts, offering tangible proof of South Africa’s renewed prosecutorial vigor.

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Asset Recovery: Nearly R11 Billion Reclaimed

The report showcases impressive progress in asset recovery:

• R8 billion recovered by the Asset Forfeiture Unit

• R2.9 billion recovered by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)

• R10.6 billion worth of assets are under restraint or preservation orders

Landmark recoveries include:

• ABB (R2.55 billion)

• SAP (R1.16 billion)

• McKinsey & Co (R1.12 billion)

These figures represent a fourfold increase from the R2.9 billion reported in October 2022 and reflect intensified efforts to reclaim looted public funds and hold beneficiaries accountable.

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Institutional Reform: Reshaping Governance and Oversight

President Ramaphosa’s strategy extends beyond prosecution, focusing on structural reforms that address the root causes of state capture.

1. Law Enforcement Modernisation

• NPA Amendment Act of 2024 established the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) as a permanent entity, granting it criminal investigation and police powers. IDAC commenced operations in August 2024.

2. Financial Crime Control

• Through the General Laws Amendment Act of 2022, the state has closed FATF-identified loopholes, resulting in a 40% rise in compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) standards between 2023 and 2024.

3. Public Procurement Reform

• The Public Procurement Act of 2024 replaces fragmented regulatory frameworks with a centralised, transparent procurement system, designed to prevent abuse and collusion.

4. Intelligence Services Overhaul

• The General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act of 2025 dismantled the State Security Agency (SSA) and re-established:

  • South African Intelligence Service (foreign intelligence)

  • South African Intelligence Agency (domestic intelligence) This returns the intelligence sector to its pre-2009 structure, now with enhanced oversight.

5. Professionalising Public Administration

• The National Framework for Public Sector Professionalisation has been rolled out, including:

  • Mandatory lifestyle audits for senior officials

  • 138 departments have already implemented these audits

  • Ethical training and standards introduced across civil service

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Corporate and Professional Accountability Measures

Private sector entities implicated in state capture are also under scrutiny:

• The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) completed reviews of 10 companies, with 6 investigations ongoing

• Bain & Co received a 10-year public sector ban (September 2022–2032) for its role in SARS capture

• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) permanently disbarred a chartered accountant and imposed a R6.1 million fine

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Legislative Tools for Long-Term Impact

Several key pieces of legislation have been passed to solidify these reforms:

• Electoral Matters Amendment Act (2024): Criminalises donations in exchange for political favours

• Judicial Matters Amendment Act (2023): Establishes corporate liability for failure to prevent corruption

• Companies Second Amendment Act (2024): Extends timelines for director delinquency proceedings

• General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act (2024): Restructures state intelligence services for better accountability

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Looking Ahead: 2025–2026 Priorities

While celebrating the progress, President Ramaphosa emphasised that accountability is ongoing, with several reforms still in the pipeline:

• Whistleblower Protection Bill: To be finalised and introduced in Parliament

• National State Enterprises Bill: Aimed at SOE governance overhaul

• SARS Act amendments: Based on recommendations of the Nugent Commission

• Anti-corruption architecture: Proposals under review by the Executive

“We have recovered nearly R11 billion in stolen public funds, strengthened our law enforcement capacity, and implemented comprehensive reforms. However, our work is far from complete,” said President Ramaphosa.

He stressed that rebuilding public trust requires not only visible justice but systemic reform that ensures state capture cannot recur.

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Public Access and Transparency

The full report, including detailed annexures on:

• Implementation timelines

• Court proceedings

• Legislation status

• Asset recovery data

is publicly available on The Presidency’s website: 🔗 State Capture Report 2025 – Full Text