Many associate South Africa with an inspiring story of the fight against apartheid, whichhad a happy ending when Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerkreceived theNobel Peace Prize in 1993.

But history never ends. In this episode of Taxcast Norway, we will hear how South Africa – under former president Jacob Zuma – became so permeated with corruption that agovernment – appointed commission referred to the country as a captured state. This hashad disastrous consequences for the country's development.

The guest in this episode is Michael Marchant, who is head of investigations in the SouthAfrican organization Open Secrets. Through a series of articles andreports, they haveuncovered how Zuma and powerful elites systematically attacked state institutions thatcould expose and stop their corruption.

Through media revelations and popular opposition, the pressure on Zuma was so great thathe was forced to resign. What’s next, for the once hopeful country?

The episode was recorded on November 16.

Presenters: Peter Ringstad and Ingrid Hjertaker

Audio production and music: Kristoffer Lislegaard

Episode notes:

Open Secrets website: https://www.opensecrets.org.za/

Link to the report «Wanted: The State Capture Conspirators»:https://www.opensecrets.org.za/wanted-the-conspirators/

The website of «The judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector» https://www.statecapture.org.za