Corruption in South Africa, gripe many locals, is as bad as in the rest of Africa. Poorly-paid policemen let offenders go in exchange for a few notes. Officials pocket pensions and other welfare payments they are supposed to pass on. Even the admired captain of the national cricket team, the late Hansie Cronje, was caught taking money from betting syndicates. Shady practice was long a problem during white rule, says President Thabo Mbeki, but he admits that it remains so today. In December, he promised to "fight graft and root out and defeat networks of corruption". This week, that promise gained some credibility. On March 19th, a court in Pretoria sentenced a senior politician to four years in jail. Tony Yengeni, who was until last year chief whip of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), was found guilty of defrauding Parliament.