“South Africa is doing rather badly. ” – Dr Mark Shaw on South Africa’s criminality score.
Organized Crime levels has risen and South Africa has climbed to a staggering 7th place out of 193 countries on the Global Organized Crime Index. This places the nation alongside high-conflict zones like Colombia, Mexico, and Afghanistan. This alarming ranking was highlighted during recent testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry by Dr. Mark Shaw, Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).
Systemic Infiltration: Experts warn that the South African Police Service (SAPS) may be too deeply compromised by criminal networks to be salvaged through standard reforms. Criminal syndicates have moved beyond mere bribery, effectively embedding themselves within state structures to protect their interests.
Watch: https://youtu.be/NOKLDwrGvHI?si=zL7JwZlZvIAVVeOX
Surpassing Global Hotspots: South Africa’s murder rate now exceeds those of notorious crime hubs like Colombia and Mexico, driven largely by the proliferation of organized “mafia” syndicates.
The Rise of the “Big Five” Cartels: Criminal activities have evolved into sophisticated markets, including construction mafias, infrastructure stripping, illegal mining, and widespread extortion rackets that now affect even small-town businesses.
A State Incapable of Response: The testimony suggests that the state has lost its “monopoly on force,” with law enforcement often paralyzed by internal corruption and political interference, making it nearly impossible to dismantle these networks from within.
This highlights a shift from “political state capture” to “criminal state capture,” where the goal is no longer just influence, but the total control of illegal markets.
Source: ABC News (2 Sept 2026): “SA among Top 10 countries affected by organised crime: GI-TOC” | Newzroom Afrika (2 Sept 2026): “Organised crime ‘biggest threat’ to SA’s constitutional democracy”
