Ramaphosa’s stolen millions: the Namibian connection

Sam Sole, Tebogo Tshwane and Tileni Mongudhi

4 June, 2022

In 2020 Namibian authorities identified suspects following a break-in at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm, but sources allege SA intelligence back-channels were used to get the Namibians to let the matter go.

Update: Regulator fed “incorrect or incomplete” information in Rudland-Tongaat takeover

Dewald van Rensburg

3 June, 2022

The outcome of an investigation by the Takeover Regulation Panel looks set to sink the deal that would hand control of one of South Africa’s oldest companies to the controversial Tobacco-dealing family.

The evaporating case for gas

Susan Comrie

27 May, 2022

A study from a coalition of 86 major corporations — including Eskom, Sasol and Shell — shows we need very little natural gas to achieve energy security.

Fuel thieves siphon off millions from Eskom power station

Laura López González

16 May, 2022

As fuel prices soar, an ageing Eskom power station in Mpumalanga is the hub of one sophisticated fuel theft operation siphoning off millions of rands worth — with help from corrupt officials, trucking companies and police.

Advocacy Update: amaBhungane and Arena win court bid for access to Steinhoff report

Cherese Thakur

12 May, 2022

The Western Cape High Court has found in favour of Tiso Blackstar (now Arena Holdings) and amaBhungane in their application to gain access to a PwC report commissioned by embattled retailer Steinhoff.

The ANC’s manganese ‘gold’ mine

Dewald van Rensburg

9 May, 2022

Massive cashflows from a joint venture with sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg could overwhelmingly shape the ruling party’s financial fortunes.

Today is World Press Freedom Day

Sam Sole

3 May, 2022

This year’s United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) theme is “Journalism under Digital Siege”.

Analysis: Who is behind South Africa’s xenophobic nationalism?

AmaBhungane Team

28 April, 2022

Evidence gathered for amaBhungane suggests that if South Africa descends into xenophobic violence, it will be disproportionately due to the actions of a few political actors.

Postbank’s near miss social grant meltdown

Dewald van Rensburg

22 April, 2022

Revealed: payment disputes almost crashed South Africa’s multi-billion rand social grant system more than once last year, forcing Postbank to irregularly cough up for services it was supposed to have been delivering itself in the first place.

Advocacy comment: The NPO amendment bill — fresh spring or poisoned chalice?

Nicole Copley of ngoLAW

14 April, 2022

For a Bill so long in the making (consultations began in 2012), it is a mess.

Who is really behind the R2-billion Tongaat Hulett bid?

Dewald van Rensburg

13 April, 2022

Who sits behind Magister Investments, the prospective new owner of the sugar giant? This mystery is now front and centre in a last-ditch battle by minority shareholders to block the controversial R2-billion deal.

PRASA: the CR17 ‘spy’, the security cabal and the dodgy tenders

Tebogo Tshwane and Sam Sole

11 April, 2022

An obscure group of security personnel have been embedded in PRASA, giving them influence over the agency’s huge security budget – and more.