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Mail & Guardian

Investigative Journalism

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Power of patronage: Sassa CEO Mr Themba Matlou appointment as head of Sassa allegedly forms part of a broader trend of irregular appointments in social development. Photo: Sassa
SASSA

R30 million to make Sassa CEO look good

Sassa CEO Themba Matlou faces scrutiny over a R30-million media tender where R29 million was allegedly spent in the first year to shape press coverage and shield management from…

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
7 min read
Karin Mitchell’s The High Treason Club reconstructs South Africa’s Boeremag trial, revealing extremist plots, ideological fervour and the fragility of democracy
APARTHEID LEGACY

Reckoning with South Africa’s white supremacist threat

Karin Mitchell’s The High Treason Club reconstructs South Africa’s Boeremag trial, revealing extremist plots, ideological fervour and the fragility of democracy

  • Marlan Padayachee
5 min read
Blow by blow: Jeff Wicks, winner of this year’s Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism, and author of The Shadow State, with Renu and Dominic Williams at the book launch in Johannesburg, which was also launched at Ike’s Book Corner for Durban family members and book lovers. Photos: NB Publishers/Tafelberg, Deokaran family
BABITA DEOKARAN

Beyond the headlines: Jeff Wicks turns Babita Deokaran’s story into a lasting testament

Jeff Wicks’s book The Shadow State is both an exposé and a tribute, ensuring that whistleblower Babita Deokaran’s warnings echo beyond her murder

  • Marlan Padayachee
6 min read
Journalist and writer Gavin Evans
APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA

Gavin Evans on fathers, faith and fearless reporting in South Africa

Memoir is a gripping account of journalistic bravery, father-son reckonings and resilience

  • Kibo Ngowi
8 min read
The docuseries makes us wonder how many Joostes are still out there cooking the books.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

The Wolf of Stellenbosch: Markus Jooste and the making of a financial scandal

Steinheist dives deep into Markus Jooste’s billion-rand fraud and its shocking aftermath

  • Rolland Simpi Motaung
7 min read
We will not be cowed. We will not relent in our pursuit of holding the powerful to account. As custodians of this fine institution we will continue to pursue the highest tenet of journalism: truth.
AVANI SINGH

CENSORED: How the M&G got taken down

How Africa’s oldest news website got taken down by a spurious plagiarism complaint

  • Beauregard Tromp
8 min read
Independent, traditional news outlets do not just avoid this problem, they are the key to addressing it, because only they can credibly verify the news being circulated on social media. (Gemma Ritchie)
ADEWUNMI EMORUWA

Africa needs traditional, independent media to hold the powerful to account

Social-media platforms have their place, but it is investigative journalists who can effect change

  • Adewunmi Emoruwa
4 min read
Apple, Dell and Nvidia have supply chains in China and rely on components manufactured.
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

Rica has five constitutional and other flaws

The piece of legislation requires you to give all your details when getting a new SIM card

  • Athandiwe Saba
2 min read