In a landmark decision that has stirred public debate, South African businessman Angelo Agrizzi, a key figure in a sprawling corruption scandal, has been spared jail time following a plea agreement with state prosecutors. Agrizzi, who confessed to orchestrating bribery schemes involving high-ranking government officials and lawmakers, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, but the sentence was suspended on the condition of his continued cooperation with ongoing investigations. This development was announced by the National Prosecuting Authority on Thursday. Agrizzi’s testimony during the Zondo Commission in 2019 had unveiled a dark chapter of systemic corruption under the leadership of former President Jacob Zuma, who resigned in 2018 amid graft allegations. Agrizzi detailed how he facilitated bribes, often concealed in newspapers or gray bags, to secure lucrative government contracts for his company, Bosasa. His revelations implicated several senior officials and politicians from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. The plea deal specifically addresses cases involving former officials from South Africa’s Department of Corrections and a former ANC lawmaker, all accused of accepting bribes to award Bosasa contracts worth over $100 million. Agrizzi pleaded guilty to three counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The case has drawn criticism over the slow pace of prosecutions, with many implicated individuals seemingly evading accountability. The Zondo Commission, which ran from 2018 to 2022, exposed widespread corruption but has led to few convictions. Former President Zuma, already convicted of contempt of court for refusing to testify, faces separate corruption charges dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, which remain unresolved.
Businessman who blew the whistle on a South African government bribery scandal gets plea deal
