AmaB will be in the Constitutional Court next week, arguing that Parliament passed the Public Procurement Act unconstitutionally by failing to give the public a meaningful chance to influence the law.

AmaBhungane has received 477 tip-offs so far this year … more than 100 every month.

Just two weeks before the 2024 national elections, Parliament passed the Public Procurement Act, the law governing how public tenders are run.

Every day, South Africans send us stories that rarely make the headlines: labour disputes, corruption allegations, trafficking claims, service delivery failures and pleas for accountability.

BREAKING NEWS: Eskom announces disciplinaries against “several employees who breached our procurement processes”, following amaBhungane’s investigation into R21-billion in dodgy diesel contracts.

This year amaBhungane has already received over 400 tip-offs from citizens across the length and breadth of South Africa. And the already depressing scale of these cries for help is escalating. They paint a bleak picture of abuse, corruption and dysfunction.

Amabhungane can confirm the suspension of Molefe Fani (right), Divisional Commissioner of SAPS Supply Chain Management, is directly related to his involvement in the R515m SAPS PPE tender awarded to a company linked to Robert Gumede (left) in 2020. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4trdzZW

Last week the wholesale price of diesel hit R31.54/litre. Government won’t give Eskom a licence to act as a wholesaler. Instead, Eskom buys diesel for its critical Ankerlig power station from five suppliers at between R30 and R31/litre.

Eskom has a notorious history with prepayments. In 2016, it prepaid a Gupta-linked company R659-million for coal that only arrived months later.

In December 2024, Eskom awarded a ±R21-billion tender to provide up to 1 billion litres of diesel to Eskom’s Ankerlig power station, which runs massive diesel generators when loadshedding threatens.

Meet Minnie Mavuso. At 24, the psychology graduate was selling wigs online through her business, Milo Hair Beauté.

When Eskom advertised a R21-billion diesel tender, it told bidders it was strictly payment after 60 days. Yet shortlisted suppliers were allowed to offer bigger discounts in exchange for faster payment terms.

In December 2024, Eskom picked five companies to supply diesel to Ankerlig power station – a deal potentially worth R21-billion.

“The media landscape is shaped by interlocking threats.” Join the Intel Watch webinar this Thursday, May 7, at 14:30, on “UNDER SIEGE: Mapping threats to the media in South Africa” by Naledi Sikhakhane & former amaBhungane journalist, Magnificent Mndebele, with Caroline James on the panel.

Join Intelwatch’s webinar on threats facing South African media, Thursday, 7 May at 14:30:

Join our upcoming Intelwatch webinar this Thursday, May 7, at 14:30, “UNDER SIEGE: Mapping threats to the media in South Africa” by Naledi Sikhakhane and Magnificent Mndebele. Our Advocacy Coordinator, Caroline James, joins the panel — don’t miss the conversation.

On #WorldPressFreedomDay: This is bigger than us. It’s about the conditions that make journalism possible: access to information, protection for reporters, and the ability to publish without fear or interference.

Just two weeks before the national elections in 2024, Parliament adopted the Public Procurement Act. Read our piece on our Constitutional Court procedural challenge to understand why this was a piece of political theatre. 

Procurement is a big focus for amaB – we report on dodgy tenders, we advocate for better procurement systems and now we’re challenging the passing of the Public Procurement Act. See our new video which shows how all these strands interact.

In passing the Public Procurement Act, Parliament adopted ludicrous timelines for public submissions, did not consider 64% of the submissions and introduced a whole new chapter after the submissions period had closed … this is why we argue it was unconstitutionally adopted. 

Judge Mbuyiseni Madlanga says public procurement is being used “against us” as South Africans. We agree. That’s why we’ve gone to the Constitutional Court to challenge the Public Procurement Act.

Judge Mbuyiseni Madlanga says public procurement is being used “against us” as South Africans. We agree. That’s why we’ve gone to the Constitutional Court to challenge the Public Procurement Act.

The Chair of the NCOP called Treasury’s presentation on the Public Procurement Bill “inadequate” and said, “you can’t be serious!” The NCOP passed the Bill anyway. We describe all the failures in the legislative process here. 

Watch our video to learn more about the irregular water tanker tenders awarded by JHB Water that we wrote about earlier this year. It’s because of these irregularities that we’ve been advocating for procurement reform – including our upcoming challenge in the ConCourt.

SA’s democracy is representative and participatory; Parliament is required to give effect to the right of the public to be heard and have their views considered. But our experience of the Public Procurement Bill process showed this is just an illusion. 

Just two weeks before the national elections in 2024, Parliament adopted the Public Procurement Act. Read our piece on our Constitutional Court procedural challenge to understand why this was a piece of political theatre. 

We’re going to the ConCourt next month to challenge the passing of the Public Procurement Act. Read our latest piece on the challenge and watch this video to see why we are so concerned about South Africa’s procurement system. 

In May the Constitutional Court will hear our challenge to the way in which the Public Procurement Act was passed. Read our piece to see why we believe that not only was the process shambolic, it was also unconstitutional. 

Judge Mbuyiseni Madlanga says public procurement is being used “against us” as South Africans. We agree. That’s why we’ve gone to the Constitutional Court to challenge the Public Procurement Act.

Rubicon Clothing secured a multimillion-rand grant from the National Skills Fund to train learners in the fashion industry. The proposal promised skills, stipends and recognised qualifications. But key elements did not stand up to scrutiny.

Rubicon was meant to keep its R2.7 million training funds in a dedicated account. Instead, the money was paid into an existing account used for other business. The programme collapsed, and the learners were left with nothing. Watch our video to find out more:

Before approving R2.7 million in funding for Rubicon’s training project, three officials assessed the application — and didn’t agree. But the project was approved anyway. Watch our breakdown and read the full story at amaBhungane.org.

Before funding was approved, Rubicon’s accreditation with the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Seta had already lapsed. Without accreditation, training cannot lead to a recognised qualification. The project was approved anyway. Watch our breakdown and read the full story at amaBhungane.org.

Rubicon secured R2.7 million from the National Skills Fund to train 100 learners in clothing and textile manufacturing. The proposal promised skills, stipends and recognised qualifications. But none of that materialised.

What happened to the R2.7-million in training funds received by designer Hangwani Nengovhela? The SIU says R947 000 was spent within two days. Within two months the money was all gone – before the project had even started.

The National Skills Fund spent four years chasing celebrity designer Hangwani Nengovhela for the money she owed them. It took a Presidential proclamation in 2025 for the SIU to act and get her to repay the money.

We sent questions to celebrity designer Hangwani Nengovhela about her SIU deal to ‘pay back the money’ received from the NSF. Her husband Tshamano responded claiming she had no involvement in Rubicon's operations despite being its sole member. The record shows otherwise.

Rubicon Clothing designer Hangwani Nengovhela left 100 learners in the lurch in a R2.7-million National Skills Fund (NSF) scandal that has finally caught up with her thanks to the SIU – but she’s still trying to shift the blame. @amaBhungane investigates.

Rubicon secured millions to train learners. But the programme never materialised. What happened, and how the money was approved, is the subject of our latest investigation. Coming Sunday.

Rubicon secured millions to train learners. But the programme never materialised. What happened, and how the money was approved, is the subject of our latest investigation. Coming Sunday.

Goal! AmaBhungane has been nominated for the European Press Prize [ https://bit.ly/4ty7Y5f ] for its part in the international Scam Empire exposé.

Proceedings begin today in the case that could decide Tongaat Hulett’s fate. The court will weigh competing positions on the company’s future after years of financial distress.

Goal! AmaBhungane has been nominated for the European Press Prize [ https://bit.ly/4ty7Y5f ] for its part in the international Scam Empire exposé.

The court battle over Tongaat Hulett begins today, with arguments over whether the embattled company should be placed into liquidation.

Today, Tongaat Hulett’s future is before the court. A judge will hear arguments that could determine whether the company is liquidated or not.

As the court showdown over Tongaat Hulett approaches, the question is no longer just whether the company survives, but if so on whose terms.

Tomorrow, argument over the future of Tongaat Hulett will begin in court, as a long-running battle over its fate reaches a critical moment.

Tomorrow, the fate of Tongaat Hulett heads to court. Liquidation, capitulation or a fight for a fairer rescue plan? @SamSoleZA breaks down the battle, the players and what’s really at stake.

A court showdown looms over the liquidation of Tongaat-Hulett. The IDC, the Minister, cane growers and Mozambican sugar producer RGS oppose it.

Insolvency practitioners are the hyenas of our economic system. One does not have to like their occasional cackle or bloody jaws; they are an important part of the ecosystem.