South Africa has been grappling with a serious issue of corruption allegations in the public sector. Cloete Murray, a 50-year-old investigator appointed to look into these allegations, was shot dead along with his son in Johannesburg city on Saturday. Murray held a significant position as a liquidator for Bosasa company, which was involved in numerous government contract scams. As a liquidator, he closely monitored the affairs of the company and reported any criminal activity or helped with asset recovery.
This incident highlights the dangers that investigators and whistleblowers face in South Africa when they try to uncover corruption. It also underscores the importance of investigating and exposing corruption to promote transparency and accountability in public institutions.
The Zondo Commission, set up in 2018 by former president Jacob Zuma to investigate corruption and fraud in South Africa’s public sector, found that Bosasa was involved in scams related to government contracts. The commission revealed that the company bribed influential politicians and state officials during Zuma’s presidency from 2009 to 2018.
The tragic death of Murray and his son is a stark reminder of the risks that individuals take to fight corruption and promote transparency in the public sector. It is crucial for the South African government to take action and ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice.
However, Zuma denied any allegations of wrongdoing at the time. It’s worth noting that Bosasa, the company implicated in corruption, was a donor to the current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership campaign and reportedly received lucrative government contracts. In response to Bosasa’s corruption links, Ramaphosa stated that he would repay the $35,000 (£27,300) in donations received from the company. Ramaphosa faces numerous other allegations in addition to the Bosasa corruption charges.
Cloete Murray, the investigator who was tragically killed along with his son, was also looking into a company linked to the Gupta brothers, namely Ajay, Rajesh, and Atul. The commission’s report found that the brothers attempted to capture the state with political favors under Zuma’s leadership. The Gupta brothers moved from India to South Africa in 1993 and enjoyed favors from the government and public companies.
South Africa is currently seeking the extradition of the Gupta brothers from the UAE, where they were arrested and now face trial.
