Open Secrets ZA

Join Open Secrets for the launch of the fourth Who Owns South Africa investigative report! 📅 24 June 2026 ⏰ 6PM 📍Homecoming Centre Get your tickets here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/379696-who-owns-south-africa-private-pensions-launch/?ref=organiser-profile#/

Do this season's English Premier League matches even matter any more? 👀 In something a little different from our usual beat, read Ariella Scher's oped on what's happening with the Manchester City "financial doping" findings, why they matter and where to from here? 🔗 https://loom.ly/wE7lu4g

We applaud this decision. It affirms the importance of international law & holds human rights abusers to account. As the Nobel Committee said, “This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.” https://loom.ly/f3FWj1M

Days before Zimbabwean tycoon & tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo died in a helicopter crash, Open Secrets had laid a formal criminal complaint against him in South Africa. Michael Marchant (Head of Investigations) writes more in the Financial Mail: 🔗 https://loom.ly/BzwCsrs

Want to know who runs our newsfeed? 👀 Tune into Open Secrets' Who Owns South Africa: Private Media. 📅 Tuesday, 20 October 2026 ⏰ 6PM 📍Homecoming Centre Get your tickets for free here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/398054-who-owns-south-africa-private-media/?ref=events-list#/

October 7 marks the 3rd year of increased violence against the Palestinians, a marker of a decades-long genocide. Let us boycott, protest & demand accountability https://www.opensecrets.org.za/not-exactly-at-arms-length-how-south-africas-weapons-trade-undermines-its-stance-on-israel-and-palestine/

Six of the Dirty Dozen Special Forces members accused of killing top cop Frans Mathipa were a no show in court. Is there a ploy to ensure that the police cannot arrest these soldiers? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UMtMx3bYowQ Want to know more? 👉https://www.opensecrets.org.za/russian-doll/

Zimbabwean business tycoon Wicknell Chivayo has died in a helicopter crash just days after Open Secrets laid a criminal complaint with the Hawks against him. Read: https://www.opensecrets.org.za/south-african-company-ren-form-and-wicknell-chivayo-embroiled-in-r570m-zimbabwe-corruption-scandal/

Open Secrets’ documentary, 'We Can’t See the Sunset' (2025), will be screened at Ubuntu Hub, Joburg on 22 September! The film documents the climate costs of communities at the margins as well as their enduring hope. 🎥 RSVP here: https://www.acaforms.org.za/signup_V2.php?e=PATXW

We are once again getting down and dirty in the fight against fossil fuels with African Climate Alliance! 🌍 At Climate Week in Joburg, we will host a linocut artivism workshop as well as another screening of We Can't See the Sunset. RSVP here: https://www.acaforms.org.za/signup_V2.php?e=3NJ8H

Read our final piece on Digital Profiteers where combatting fraud is key. But what is considered fraud? And how does it impact grant recipients? 🚨READ: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-04-digital-profiteers-part-3-how-combating-fraud-in-sas-digitalised-grants-system-hurts-the-poor/

Today marks anti-apartheid activist Dulcie September’s birthday. Dulcie did not live to see a democratic South Africa, but she was vital in its struggle and establishment.

Somebody is making bank off grants 👀 In part two of Digital Profiteers, we look into the banks involved in the grant system. 🚨 READ PART 2 HERE: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-03-digital-profiteers-part-two-the-banks-and-the-costs-of-verifying-social-grant-recipients/

On Sunday, Luthando Vilakazi, an Open Secrets lawyer, spoke to @Newzroom Afrika on the "legal fight that could possibly reshape how South Africa holds commissions of inquiry." Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VBmqQruwA

Open Secrets directer, Hennie van Vuuren will join Thamsanqa Zanoxolo Hlatshwayo in a discussion on the Tyranny of Swaziland's Absolute Monarch! Join us on Thursday evening to hear about the unchecked political power of King Mswati III & the capturing of a state. RSVP: martin@wwmp.org.za

Our latest investigation explores the hidden infrastructure behind SA's digital grants system & the questions it raises when essential public services rely on private companies. 🚨 READ PART 1: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-07-25-a-peek-behind-south-africas-digitalised-grants-system/

Open Secrets' Ra'eesa Pather spoke on Newzroom Afrika about the inquiry shockingly clearing South Gauteng DPP Adv. Andrew Chauke. Pather argues the finding defies years of investigations, saying key evidence was never properly tested 👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYbGDTxtV70

Who holds South African corporations accountable for their conduct outside of SA? Responsibility shouldn’t disappear at the border. We applied to be amicus curiae in the Constitutional Court case between MTN and East Asian Consortium 🎥 Watch here:https://youtu.be/_ceWw9fUWuI?si=w4CpghQ99HP8ERMK

Afrophobia has no place in a just and democratic South Africa. Today, we stand in solidarity with migrants, refugees, and foreign nationals living in South Africa. Open Secrets condemns the country-wide protests that have threatened the lives and livelihoods, particularly of African migrants.

Open Secrets is launching Who Owns South Africa: Private Pensions edition! See you later today at the launch event! 📍 Homecoming Centre 📅 24 June 2026 🕕 18:00 Download the report here:https://www.opensecrets.org.za/investigation-who-owns-south-africa-private-pensions/⁩

Salim Essa continues to evade justice in Dubai as prosecutors pursue his extradition for orchestrating massive corruption linked to state contracts. 🚨 READ: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-20-unaccountable-00047-salim-essa-the-shadow-broker-of-state-capture-remains-unaccountable/

Civil society met today to discuss the Protected Disclosures Bill. 🚨 READ: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-05-civil-society-welcomes-draft-whistleblower-bill-but-warns-that-serious-risks-remain/?dm_source=blocks-grid-square&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform

Voice phishing scams targeting retired South Africans are engineered. The UK mandates reimbursement after proving consumer awareness isn’t enough. South Africa has the same evidence—so why no action? Read here: https://currencynews.co.za/inside-a-vishing-call-41-minutes-r340000-gone/

Civil society says the draft whistleblower Bill is a step forward—but not enough. 🚨 READ: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-05-civil-society-welcomes-draft-whistleblower-bill-but-warns-that-serious-risks-remain/?dm_source=blocks-grid-square&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform

The deadline for the Open Secrets internships has been extended! Are you interested in holding the private sector to account? APPLY HERE: https://www.opensecrets.org.za/https-form-jotform-com-260983599811573/

On 29 April 2026, the Government of Zambia announced the postponement of the RightsCon 2026 conference. As we continue to receive updates, we call on the Government of Zambia to uphold human and digital rights. Read the RightsCon statement: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXuqN8SCPfU/

We’re on the lookout for TWO driven individuals to join our tight-knit team: 🔍 Intern: Investigations 📢 Intern: Campaigns If you’re ready to make an impact where it counts, this might be your moment. APPLY NOW: https://www.opensecrets.org.za/https-form-jotform-com-260983599811573/

🫵 Have you been tirelessly scrolling through *ndeed for job listings? Look no further! APPLY HERE for the Investigations and Campaigns internships at Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org.za/https-form-jotform-com-260983599811573/

Tune into the Open Secrets' Hennie van Vuuren on Newzroom Afrika about President Cyril Ramaphosa's "indecisiveness" in addressing leadership stability within the police service! WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/YfdDZp_yHO0

🚨 Unaccountables is back with Eric Wood & calls for State Capture accountability! READ: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-22-unaccountable-00046-eric-wood-at-the-centre-of-a-stalled-reckoning-over-transnet-billions/?dm_source=blocks-grid-square&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform

Cupcake's economy got you down? Open Secrets' Campaigns and Investigations internships might be the solution to your problems. We're looking for two candidates to join our team - apply if you hate economic crime and human rights abuses! 📍 APPLY HERE: https://form.jotform.com/260983599811573

Today marks 38 years since the legendary Dulcie September's assassination. Her family, who have lived through unimaginable pain, are still seeking justice. Thirty-eight years later, questions remain: who killed Dulcie September, and who ensured the truth stayed buried?

Last call for our workshop with Yetu Infotech Collective about the people versus private telecoms! 📍JOHANNESBURG, 24 MARCH 2026: The Forge, Braamfonetin. 📍BOTSHABELO, 26 MARCH 2026: Botshabelo Social Development Office. REGISTER NOW: https://freeinternet.africa/digitalage

Have calls to justice been disconnected? 👀 Join us and Yetu Infotech Collective for a workshop on private telecoms and community-based networks! 📍JOHANNESBURG, 24 MARCH: The Forge 📍BOTSHABELO, 26 MARCH: Botshabelo Social Development Office REGISTER HERE: https://freeinternet.africa/digitalage

The global arms trade is booming as world war may be looming. Arms transfers jumped 9.2% in the past five years. The US remains the world’s top weapons supplier. Read more here: https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2026/global-arms-flows-jump-nearly-10-cent-european-demand-soars

CPT’s rail rebuild may be in business with the Cape Flats 28s gang. Prasa security head Alexio Papadopulo allegedly steered contractors toward firms linked to alleged 28s boss Ralph Stanfield Read: https://amabhungane.org/exclusive-alleged-28s-gang-boss-captured-mega-rail-project-with-prasas-help/

Former ANC MP Vincent Smith is going to prison for Bosasa corruption. It's proof the wheels of justice turn slowly — but selectively. Read here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-05-from-parliament-to-prison-vincent-smithh-receives-sevenyear-sentence-for-bosasa/

"If the NHI is implemented in its entirety, perfectly or imperfectly, it would render the need for private healthcare system unnecessary and moot," says Luthando Vilakazi on Health Beat. WATCH NOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o6E8pq4_og

What need does a democratic country have for an apartheid military industrial complex responsible for decades of suffering? 🚨 READ HERE: https://groundup.org.za/article/sa-arms-control-committee-delays-producing-record-of-weapons-sales-for-five-years/

💥No climate justice in a world at war The @cjcoalition.bsky.social calls for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilian lives, and transparency around military emissions. READ: https://climatejusticecoalition.org/no-climate-justice-in-a-world-at-war/

🚨 Join us and the Institute for Economic Justice on 11 March 2026 at 13:00 (SAST) for an important discussion on South Africa’s digital welfare fraud crackdown! 🔗 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3617726213756/WN_9AdzXcAzTFS83-gYdrbF7g

Itching for something new? Open Secrets Campaigner position might be what you're looking for! Applications are almost closed so make sure to get yours in before Sunday! APPLY HERE: https://form.jotform.com/Open_Secrets/campaigner2026

South Africa promised transparency in arms exports. So why is the NCACC still refusing to explain weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE? READ Open Secrets' Ntokozo Dladla's op-ed: https://groundup.org.za/article/sa-arms-control-committee-delays-producing-record-of-weapons-sales-for-five-years/

YNF Engineering got R970 million — nearly 40% of what Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) spent in 3 years on its overhaul tender. Read more: https://www.news24.com/investigations/trains-to-nowhere-how-a-firm-scored-millions-as-prasa-allegedly-blew-billions-on-old-trains-20260222-0987

📢 Open Secrets is looking for a new full-time campaigner! We investigate economic crime, expose power, and use research, advocacy & the law to defend human rights. Ready to hold the powerful accountable? APPLY HERE: https://form.jotform.com/Open_Secrets/campaigner2026

Civil society has been advocating for an expanded R1,750-a-month Basic Income Grant (BIG). The call is clear: tax the rich, fund jobs, and refuse to buy into another "anti-poor" budget Read here: https://groundup.org.za/article/budget-2026-civil-society-groups-call-for-a-r1750-a-month-social-grant/

Reminder that Open Secrets' Ra'eesa Pather wrote that "a judgment in Mozambique has implicated Pam Golding Properties in a major corruption scandal" 👀 READ: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-17-pam-golding-faces-fallout-over-managemengement-of-millions-bribes-paid-to-former/

📢 Open Secrets is looking for a new campaigner! Are you an advocate for social justice, accountability and transparency? Are you keen to work with a small team of investigators and civil society activists? APPLY HERE: https://form.jotform.com/Open_Secrets/campaigner2026

Join Sam Husseini for a PSC talk on press freedom and international law! Open Secrets Ra'eesa Pather will be in conversation with him, Lester Kiewit, Jaamia Galant and Martin Jansen about accountability in global affairs. 📍 Tomorrow, Saturday 21 February ⏰ 3pm-5pm 🏠 Community House

Did you spot the contradiction in Ramaphosa’s #SONA speech? SA apparently wants climate resilience without climate accountability and 'just' transition perks without taking on polluters or inequality Read: https://currencynews.co.za/silence-speaks-loudest-the-climate-contradictions-in-cyrils-sona/