From SA to India, liberation movements often ‘betray’ promises once in power, says Peter Hain

A new book by anti-apartheid activist and British politician Lord Peter Hain argues that liberation movements across the world frequently fail to deliver on their promises once they take power, often succumbing to corruption and weak governance.

Speaking on the Midday Report, Hain discussed his book Liberation and Corruption: Why Freedom Movements Fail, describing a pattern seen from South Africa to India and beyond.

Liberation promises ‘not fulfilled’

Hain said many who supported liberation movements expected “more justice, more equality, more human rights and freedom”.

“But that promise… has been betrayed, I think by the corruption that seems to have infected virtually every liberation movement across the globe,” he said.

He said this trend is not limited to one country, citing examples from Algeria to Zimbabwe, and even independence movements like India’s Congress Party.

“It seems to be a common feature that the promise of liberation is not fulfilled, indeed is often betrayed by the leaders who then get into office.”

Few success stories globally

According to Hain, very few liberation or independence movements have avoided corruption after gaining power.

He said movements in countries such as Cuba and Angola also followed similar paths, while India’s post-independence leadership “started to betray those principles and became corrupt itself”.

Hain warned that South Africa’s governing ANC could face a similar trajectory.

“I think that's quite possibly where the ANC is heading, unless it can somehow renew itself.”

South Africa’s corruption is rooted in the past

Turning to South Africa, Hain said the ANC inherited a corrupt system from apartheid.

“Apartheid was deeply corrupt… some critics… have said it wasn’t corrupt. Wrong, it was corrupt,” he said.

He added that corruption worsened under former President Jacob Zuma, describing it as a “terrible decade of shameless looting”.

Why leaders lose their way

Hain said personal circumstances and systemic pressures often play a role.

Many liberation leaders, he said, entered government with little personal wealth after years of sacrifice.

“They don’t have houses, they don’t have pensions… and that becomes very tempting,” he said.

He also pointed to the role of global corporations in enabling corruption through bribery.

“It’s not simply a question of bad politicians… global businesses are helping fuel corruption.”

Institutions key to accountability

Despite these challenges, Hain said South Africa still has strong safeguards.

He highlighted the role of an independent judiciary, a critical media, and an active civil society in exposing corruption.

“One of the things that I'm very hopeful about South Africa… is that there is a strong civil society… an independent media,” he said.

He warned that countries lacking these institutions, such as Zimbabwe, face deeper corruption and governance crises.

Global effort needed

Hain stressed that tackling corruption requires international cooperation.

“It won’t be dealt with unless you get the governments of the world… all cooperating to stamp this out,” he said.

For more details, listen to Hain on 702/CapeTalk's The Midday Report with Mandy Wienier using the audio player below: