New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- A businessman who confessed to being a fixer who delivered bribes to South African government officials, lawmakers and others in a corruption scheme that enraged the nation avoided jail time in a plea deal announced Thursday by state prosecutors.

Angelo Agrizzi, who provided dramatic testimony at an inquiry into government corruption in 2019, was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison. However, the sentence was suspended on condition that he cooperate with investigations, the National Prosecuting Authority said.

His and other testimony during the Zondo Commission detailed an era of widespread government corruption under the leadership of former President Jacob Zuma, who had already resigned in 2018 because of graf...