Popo Molefe, a trustee of African National Congress (ANC) funding vehicle Chancellor House, conceded this week that the issue of the ruling party benefiting from state contracts needed to be debated. The Mail & Guardian revealed last week that Chancellor House Holdings, a company set up by the ANC to seek profits on its behalf, would benefit from one of South Africa’s largest state tenders yet.

One of South Africa’s largest state contracts yet has been awarded to a consortium that includes the African National Congress’s (ANC) own funding company. The contract, to supply steam generators for South Africa’s first new major power station in two decades, is worth about R20-billion. About 60% of the contract will be performed by the local subsidiary, Hitachi Power Africa, which is 25% owned by the ANC company, Chancellor House Holdings.

More than two years after Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana produced his controversial report on the Oilgate saga, the Mail & Guardian has had its day in court in a bid to have it overturned and rewritten. The M&G last year launched an application under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, which allows official actions to be reviewed.

Johnnic Communications (Johncom) chair Mashudu Ramano has emerged as a key behind-the-scenes supporter of the multibillion-rand takover bid by people connected to President Thabo Mbeki. The bid has provoked a storm of protest over its implications for media independence.

Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi allegedly tipped off his friend, Glenn Agliotti, about a British drugs probe involving him. The allegation, in a statement by former Agliotti associate Clinton Nassif, sheds new light on the defeating the ends of justice charge the Scorpions wanted to bring against Selebi.

President Thabo Mbeki’s attack on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the fight-back campaign by Jackie Selebi are threatening to derail the Scorpions’ investigation of the police national commissioner and his alleged links with organised crime.

New information has emerged which flatly contradicts the presidency’s denial that President Thabo Mbeki acted to shield police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi by suspending National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli. Information obtained by the Mail & Guardian shows that Pikoli’s suspension marked the beginning of a scramble to protect Selebi.

A German request for help in investigating bribery in the arms deal — a political hot potato that will again test the independence of the criminal justice system — has reached South Africa. A justice ministry spokesperson said he could not confirm receipt of the request for mutual legal assistance, a formal document regulated by diplomatic protocol.