The South African government led by the ANC’s president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, stands accused of having fallen under the sway of the securocrats. Who, or what, are they? Securocrats are officials located in the security establishment – the police, intelligence services or the military – that have the power to influence government policy in their favour.

About the author:

Jane Duncan is an academic, public intellectual and activist at the Journalism Department at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.