Bain banned from U.K. government contracts over South Africa corruption scandal

Global management consultancy Bain & Co. was barred from competing for U.K. government contracts for three years following its role in a corruption scandal involving South Africa’s national tax offices.

The move follows a probe into allegations of widespread corruption and graft during the nine-year period former South African President Jacob Zuma was in power. Zuma has been accused of placing the interests of corrupt associates ahead of those of his country.

An investigation commission concluded Bain, which was pitching for public-sector contracts, “had not told the full story” regarding its collusion with Zuma and former South African Revenue Service Commissioner Tom Moyane and their plans “to seize and restructure” the agency and centralize procurement procedures—changes that would facilitate corruption, according to the commission’s report.