South Africa’s battle against crime isn’t just fought on the streets — it is waged in online meetings, boardrooms, banks and businesses nationwide. As our crime rates surge, so does the urgency for criminals to “clean” their ill-gotten gains. Recent South African crime statistics paint a grim picture.
Kidnapping cases have skyrocketed by 183% over nine years, with 10 826 cases recorded in 2021-22. Drug-related crimes and illegal firearm possession have surged by more than 15%, while cash-in-transit heists and truck hijackings continue to plague our communities. These are not just numbers — they are a stark reminder of the criminal undercurrent threatening our society.
But here’s what many do not realise — these crimes are just the beginning. What follows is often an elaborate dance to disguise the proceeds, a process we call money laundering. It is not about facilitating the initial crime; it is about making the profits appear legitimate afterwards.
Money laundering, while often perceived as a victimless crime, is intrinsically linked to the criminal activities that endanger not only the economy but also the lives of the citizens and wildlife of South Africa. Think of it like this — a criminal gang pulls off a major heist. They now have millions in cash, but they cannot exactly walk into a dealership and buy a fleet of luxury cars without raising eyebrows.
This is where money laundering comes in — a three-step waltz of placement, layering and integration. .