South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has entered a new phase in its fight against corruption and organised crime, aligning closely with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS). Under Advocate Andy Mothibi’s leadership, the NPA is moving beyond prosecuting “foot soldiers” and is now targeting syndicate leaders, enablers, and state-embedded actors who pose the greatest threat to democracy and economic stability.  

The NPA’s strategy, signed off in August 2024, emphasises intelligence-driven operations, financial investigations, and digital forensics. This approach is designed to dismantle criminal networks at their core, rather than simply prosecuting their operatives.

According to media report conviction rates remain strong: 93–94% nationally in organised crime prosecutions.  

Infrastructure-related cases (energy, rail, telecoms) achieved a 77.4% conviction rate in 2025/26, reflecting progress against complex supply chains. Racketeering provisions under POCA are being used to prosecute kingpins, money laundering networks, and professional enablers such as accountants and lawyers.  

The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has become a cornerstone of South Africa’s anti-corruption efforts, demonstrating tangible financial returns:  

– 2 397 freezing orders worth R13.8 billion. 
– 3 220 confiscation and forfeiture orders worth R13 billion. 
– R6.5 billion recovered since the FATF evaluation in 2019.  
– R15 billion frozen in the last five years, compared to R16.2 billion over the first 20 years.  
– R13 billion frozen in State Capture matters.  
– R6.6 billion recovered in the last five years, matching the total recovered in the first 20 years.  

These figures show a dramatic acceleration in asset recovery, a key FATF compliance indicator and a visible deterrent against corruption.  The NPA is delivering on the recommendations of the Zondo Commission:  Vincent Smith conviction (Bosasa matter): A former parliamentarian sentenced for corruption, marking a significant milestone in holding political elites accountable.  

-State Capture assets: More than R14 billion restrained and preserved, with R6.26 billion recovered to date.  Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC): Handling 134 of the 218 Zondo recommendations, with 39 cases already enrolled.  Digital Evidence Unit (DEU): A “game changer” in processing massive electronic data sets, enabling faster and smarter prosecutions.  

South Africa is now among the few countries prosecuting former ministers, senior officials, CEOs, and multinational corporations for serious corruption, proving that accountability is not selective.  

Recognising that firearms are central to organised crime, the NPA has established a Firearms Desk within its Organised Crime Component. This initiative strengthens coordination against illegal weapons, which fuel gang violence, cash-in-transit heists, and extortion networks.  

Additionally, the NPA and SAPS have rolled out a Stabilisation Plan to address gang violence in the Western Cape, now being extended to other provinces.  NPA’s trajectory shows a decisive shift: from survival to systemic reform. By combining intelligence, technology, and international cooperation, South Africa is proving that corruption can be confronted head-on.