The Corrupt Affair

The corruptive influences of the armaments industry have fed political intrigue and fictional entertainment since Anthony Sampson’s The Arms Bazaar in 1977. The Apartheid government’s wish to preserve the Old White Order’s status quo in the face of sanctions made rich pickings for arms traders. The Corrupt Affair’s has close links with South Africa'’s most infamous arms deal. During the National Unity period of 1994 to 1999, there was intense competition to sell warships and fighter aircraft to South Africa. The eventual outcome was the purchase of German-built corvette cruisers and British and Swedish fighter trainer aircraft. The Corrupt Affair uses this inviting background to show corruption’'s pervasive influence in an emerging democracy with inexperienced leadership.