Crime, corruption and murder in greater Kruger

Summary
For more than a decade, Kruger National Park has faced a relentless onslaught of rhino
poaching. But today its greatest threat is internal corruption, itself a symptom of a breakdown
in trust, staff cohesion and professionalism within the park. Recent staff arrests following
lengthy financial investigations and a renewed commitment to combat corruption are
bearing fruit but will require political support, clear law enforcement strategies to address
organized crime around the park and a long-term investment. The park is severely affected
by corrosive corruption and violent organised crime, particularly in Mpumalanga, where staff
living in surrounding communities are vulnerable to deeply entrenched criminal syndicates.

Key points
• Between 2011 and 2020, Kruger’s white rhino population fell 75%, from approximately
10 621 animals to 2 607.
• Internal corruption is the greatest threat facing the park, itself a symptom of a breakdown
in trust, staff cohesion and professionalism within the park.
• Toxic politics, deep-seated inequality, corruption and embedded organised criminality have
profoundly affected the park and surrounding communities.
• Crime and corruption in the Kruger National Park should not be viewed in isolation
without taking the impact of organized crime in Mpumalanga, including kidnappings,
cash-in-transit heists, ATM bombings, illegal mining, extortion and corruption, into account.
• Renewed efforts to combat corruption in the park, coupled with a refreshing openness
about the extent of the problem and a desire to address it, require holistic efforts.

Full Report: https://enactafrica.org/research/research-papers/landscape-of-fear-crime-corruption-and-murder-in-greater-kruger