When anti-corruption fails: the dynamics of procurement in contemporary South Africa

Recent investigations into the phenomenon of state capture in South Africa have identified procurement as a central mechanism of rent generation for key actors. This article examines some of the ways in which anti-corruption measures failed, and argues that it will not be resolved by implementing more robust policies. Policies already conform to world-class standards, yet the way in which procurement is practised should be addressed more urgently. Practices that are reminiscent of apartheid-era levels of compliance have made it a function that prioritises ‘following orders’ above policy compliance, which undermines procurement’s ability to contribute to organisational effectiveness.