Smith Sentenced, But Who’s Next? NPA Expands Bosasa Probe as Pressure Mounts

Former ANC MP Vincent Smith has been sentenced. But the Bosasa corruption scandal is far from over.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed it is looking into other dockets related to Bosasa following Smith’s sentencing on Thursday.

The Smith Case

Smith, former chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, received gratification from Bosasa and was charged alongside his company, Euroblitz 48, and former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi.

The state said Smith failed to disclose income from Euroblitz between March 2009 and July 2018, totalling approximately R28 million.

As chair of the committee overseeing the Department of Correctional Services, he was responsible for the same department that awarded Bosasa contracts worth billions.

Agrizzi testified at the Zondo Commission that Smith received gratification worth approximately R800,000.

The Bigger Picture

The Bosasa scandal was a massive corruption case involving R12 billiona two-decade scheme where the company paid bribes to high-ranking officials to secure government contracts, primarily within the Department of Correctional Services, from 2000 to 2016.

The Zondo Commission recommended investigations into numerous individuals.

Who Else Is Implicated?

• Thabang Makwetla: The former Deputy Minister of Defence was charged with corruption and fraud for allegedly receiving a R350,000 Bosasa-funded security upgrade at his residence.

• Gwede Mantashe: The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy was recommended for investigation after the Zondo Commission found he received free security upgrades to his private properties. In October 2025, his legal bid to set aside these findings was dismissed by the Gauteng High Court.

• Cedric Frolick: The ANC MP is alleged to have received monthly payments for facilitating contact between Bosasa and Smith. Although the Zondo Commission recommended an investigation, Parliament’s Ethics Committee cleared him in 2023.

• Andile Ramaphosa: The son of President Cyril Ramaphosa was allegedly implicated in a R500,000 payment made to his company by Bosasa.

The Reaction

Neeshan Balton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, said Smith’s sentencing is a significant step, but the work remains incomplete.

“There remain serious allegations against other senior politicians and officials implicated in the Bosasa scandal. All of those recommended by the Zondo Commission for further investigation must be probed. Smith alone cannot be the ‘fall guy’, while others are simply let off the hook.”

Sandile Swana, governance expert and political analyst, said although Smith’s sentencing is a step in the right direction, there are more than 200 cases that still need to be prosecuted.

“We would expect that over the next 24 months, some of the cases will be accelerated.”

Professor Sipho Seepe said Smith was not alone in his dealings with Bosasa, and his conviction should force the NPA to revisit Zondo’s recommendations.

“Any failure by the NPA to charge those implicated in the Zondo Commission would give credence to the notion that when it comes to the practice of the law, some are more equal than others.”

The NPA’s Response

Isaac Dludlu, NPA communication officer, confirmed: “We are looking at other dockets related to Bosasa.”

The Bottom Line

Vincent Smith is behind bars. But the question on everyone’s lips is: who’s next?

The NPA says it’s looking. Civil society is watching. And 200+ cases remain unresolved.

The Bosasa web is wide. The question is whether the law will catch everyoneor just the ones who couldn’t escape.

{Source: IOL}

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