McKinsey & Company Africa (Pty) Ltd
On 5 December 2024 the US Justice Department announced a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with McKinsey Africa over bribes to Transnet officials and a criminal penalty of US$122,850,000S1. The NPA announced a coordinated resolution in which McKinsey accepted responsibility under South African law for a former partner's conductS2. The State Capture Commission's Eskom volume lists findings that Eskom's settlement payments to McKinsey and Trillian were unlawfulS4, and press reported its findings of irregular and unlawful board submissionsS6. McKinsey repaid revenues from the contracts in 2018 and 2021S1. The NPA had charged the firm in September 2022S5. McKinsey says the NPA withdrew those charges in January 2025S3.
- Also known as
- McKinsey Africa, McKinsey South Africa, McKinsey & Company
- Headquarters
- South Africa
- Records from
- United States, South Africa
- Current status
- Operating consulting firm in South Africa. It entered a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the US Justice Department announced on 5 December 2024S1 and a parallel resolution with South Africa's National Prosecuting AuthorityS2. McKinsey says it completed its payments in December 2024 and that the NPA withdrew its charges against it in January 2025S3.
Scope. This record covers the South African unit of McKinsey and its work for Transnet and Eskom from 2012 to 2016. It does not cover McKinsey's US opioid advisory settlements or the criminal cases of former Transnet or Eskom officials.
Claims assessed
4 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported88The US Justice Department said in December 2024 that McKinsey Africa agreed to pay bribes to then officials at Transnet and agreed to a criminal penalty of US$122,850,000 under a deferred prosecution agreement.Regulator statement, 5 December 20243 records citedBribery
- Supported73The State Capture Commission found in 2022 that Eskom made settlement payments to McKinsey and Trillian that were unlawful.Official report, 29 April 20224 records citedBribery
- Supported88McKinsey said it returned the fees from its Transnet and Eskom work with interest.Company statement, 5 December 20243 records citedBribery
- Outdated71News24 reported in September 2022 that the NPA charged McKinsey South Africa with fraud, theft and corruption over Transnet contracts.Press report, 30 September 20224 records citedCorporate status
Cases and proceedings
- United States v. McKinsey & Company Africa (Pty) LtdUS District Court for the Southern District of New York. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Three-year deferred prosecution agreement in effect. No record of dismissal found as of October 2026.
- Criminal information filed and deferred prosecution agreement announcedS1
- The State v. McKinsey and Company Africa (Pty) Ltd and othersPalm Ridge Magistrate's Court, South Africa. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Charges against the firm withdrawn in January 2025 according to McKinsey. Cases against individuals not covered.
Responses on record
- McKinsey & Company, 5 December 2024, on The US Justice Department said in December 2024 that McKinsey Africa agreed to pay bribes ...
McKinsey said it was deeply remorseful that an employee engaged in corrupt conduct and that it had apologised publicly in 2018.S3
Revision history
- Profile and 4 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S1Tier A McKinsey & Company Africa to Pay Over $122M in Connection with Bribery of South African Government OfficialsUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 5 December 2024.Supports the DPA, the charge, the penalty and the 2018 and 2021 repayments. It does not give a docket number or later developments.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier A NPA reaches resolution with McKinsey South AfricaSouth African Government News Agency (SAnews). Government press release. 6 December 2024.Supports the NPA resolution, the acceptance of responsibility and the restitution. It does not state that charges were withdrawn.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier B McKinsey South Africa has entered into a final resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)McKinsey & Company. Company statement. 5 December 2024, with a later update.Company statement with an update saying the NPA withdrew its charges in January 2025. It is the company's own account.
- S4Tier A Report: Part IV, Vol. 4: The Capture of EskomJudicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Commission report. 29 April 2022.Official commission report. Its table of contents lists a key finding that Eskom settlement payments to McKinsey and Trillian were unlawful. The findings pages could not be extracted from the online PDF, so the finding text itself was not read.
- S6Tier C No dodging the State Capture hangover for McKinsey and TrillianDaily Maverick. Press report. 29 April 2022.Report by Jessica Bezuidenhout on the Eskom volume's findings on McKinsey and Trillian. It is press, not the report text.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier C NPA charges McKinsey SA with fraud over Transnet locomotive debacleNews24Wire via Polity.org.za. Press report. 30 September 2022.Reports the 2022 charges and the court appearance. No byline is shown and its status was overtaken in 2025.Link working, checked 25 October 2026