MEDIA STATEMENT
Johannesburg, Friday 6 December 2024 - Public Interest SA welcomes the announcement by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of a landmark agreement with McKinsey South Africa, which will see the consulting firm pay R1.1 billion into South Africa's Criminal Assets Recovery Account as part of its role in enabling state capture. This agreement represents a significant step toward addressing the economic and social harm caused by corruption.
We commend the NPA for leveraging alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and for working with the United States Department of Justice to secure this outcome. We also acknowledge McKinsey's stated commitment to cooperate with authorities, invest in anti-corruption measures, and improve compliance controls.
However, as advocates for justice and transparency, we urge the NPA to disclose the full details of this agreement. Transparency is essential in building public trust, especially given the widespread erosion of confidence in institutions during the state capture era.
While the financial restitution and McKinsey's admission of responsibility are encouraging, we remain deeply concerned that accountability must extend to individuals directly implicated in state capture corruption. Specifically, we call on the NPA to ensure that McKinsey's former partner, Vikas Sagar, faces criminal prosecution for his corrupt actions. It is unacceptable that senior executives in multinational consulting firms such as McKinsey, Bain & Company, and SAP often evade accountability, leaving others to bear the brunt of justice.
The NPA’s mandate must go beyond financial recovery; it must pursue criminal charges against all individuals who enabled state capture, including Mr. Sagar and others. South Africans deserve assurances that justice will be served, not just through corporate settlements but through holding individuals accountable for their roles in systemic corruption.
Public Interest SA remains committed to advocating for justice, ethical corporate governance, and the protection of South Africa’s democratic values. We will continue to monitor developments in this matter closely and encourage all stakeholders to prioritize accountability and transparency in the fight against corruption.
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