Given the extent of capture in the executive and the drubbing parliament received for failing in its oversight role, the judiciary emerged almost totally unscathed in the state capture report.

At the high-water mark are allegations, which chief justice Raymond Zondo ultimately decided not to resolve, against a high court judge and an ambitious, but apparently unsuccessful operation by the State Security Agency (SSA) to bribe some justices.

The revelations about Operation Justice — “motivated by a specific need to counter the influence of judges hostile to President [Jacob] Zuma”, said then acting DG of state security Loyiso Jafta in February 2021 during his testimony — were a shocking moment at the state capture commission...