Global management consultancy firm McKinsey is coming under increasing scrutiny in South Africa amid government efforts to recover funds linked to a corruption scandal.

South African media outlets are reporting that asset forfeiture officials have filed an affidavit alleging that the country's power utility made a $130 million illegal payment to McKinsey and Trillian, a company linked to the Gupta business family. The family is accused of using its association with President Jacob Zuma to land state contracts and steal public funds, an allegation that it denies.

McKinsey previously said it committed "errors of judgment and process" in its dealings with Eskom, the power utility. On Wednesday it said it plans to return the money it received and that it was not involved in bribery or other corruption.