After years of controversy and damaged credibility, Bain & Company—the international consulting powerhouse—has officially closed its consultancy branch in South Africa.
This comes just three years after it was banned from doing any work with the government.
The fallout from the state capture saga continues to echo through the country’s business landscape, and Bain is the latest high-profile exit.
From Major Contracts to Total Shutdown
Bain & Co once had a strong foothold in South Africa, particularly after securing a R187 million contract in 2014 to restructure the South African Revenue Service (SARS) under the leadership of then-commissioner Tom Moyane.
But things began to unravel after the Zondo Commission hearings exposed just how deeply Bain was entangled in alleged corruption.
By 2022, the findings were damning enough for the National Treasury to ban the firm from working with the South African government for a full decade.
That blow severely hampered its ability to rebuild trust or attract meaningful local clients.
Johannesburg Office to Shift Focus
According to The Financial Times, Bain confirmed it is officially winding down its consulting operations in the country.
However, they’re not leaving entirely. The Johannesburg office will now operate as a service hub supporting Bain’s global functions—essentially removing it from the local consulting space but keeping some infrastructure and staff in place.
The company says it will retain most of its South African employees despite the shift in business focus.
The Whistleblower Who Took on the Giant
One of the most significant voices in the unraveling of Bain’s local operations was its own former partner, Athol Williams.
His explosive testimony during the Zondo Commission shed light on how Bain allegedly worked alongside Tom Moyane to weaken SARS.
Williams didn’t just speak out—he risked everything.
By 2021, fears for his safety forced him to leave South Africa altogether.
He later revealed that Bain allegedly tried to silence him and was directly involved in unethical practices during the height of state capture.
A Legacy Tainted by Scandal
Despite once being a respected name in global consultancy, Bain’s reputation in South Africa never recovered from the Zondo Commission’s findings.
The firm’s decision to shut down its consultancy operations is being seen by many as a long-overdue move—some even call it accountability, albeit delayed.
Still, the company’s global brand continues, with the South African hub now merely part of its larger international network.
What’s Your Take?
Do you think Bain & Co made the right call to exit the consulting space in South Africa? And what does this mean for the country’s fight against corruption in the private sector?