South African news organization that publishes investigations and opinion journalism on corruption, state capture, and democratic accountability in the region.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Daily Maverick has established 7,730 refugees allowed into US over eight months, 7,727 from South Africa
“Daily Maverick has established that over eight months from around November 2025 to the end of June, 7,730 refugees were allowed into the US and the outright majority – 7,727 – were from South Africa.”
How Trump’s ‘white preference’ saw 7,727 SA ‘refugees’ enter US while resident immigrants sidelinedThe Namibian
Daily Maverick published Marianne Thamm's report on alleged R200-million PPE procurement fraud investigation inside SAPS
“On 17 January 2021, Daily Maverick published Thamm's report on an alleged R200-million PPE procurement fraud investigation inside the SAPS, which centred on two officers assigned to probe the then Crime Intelligence boss, Peter Jacobs.”
When state spies potentially target journalists, they target the press, the public and youThe Namibian
Daily Maverick exposed businessman Collen Mashawana for his charitable foundation's role in an allegedly corrupt EPWP scheme
“Just last year, Daily Maverick exposed businessman Collen Mashawana for his charitable foundation's role in an allegedly corrupt EPWP scheme.”
State Capture and xenophobia — ‘abahambe’ mob lacks gumption to tackle SA’s real problemsThe Namibian
Daily Maverick published disclosure by Marianne Thamm on Khampepe Commission findings
“Marianne Thamm disclosed in Daily Maverick that the Khampepe Commission, currently investigating the alleged political interference into TRC prosecutions, "has heard how ANC leaders from exile brought a culture of suspicion and hierarchy to South Africa's democratic governance".”
Swapo’s Authoritarian PopulismThe Namibian
Daily Maverick first reported on allegedly fraudulent transactions involving R3-million in payments
“This comes barely a week after Daily Maverick first reported on the allegedly fraudulent transactions.”
SAPS suspends police captain for pocketing millions falsely claimed for Ramaphosa protectorsThe Namibian
Daily Maverick analysed commercial crime statistics from 2013/14 to 2024/25
“According to Daily Maverick's analysis, the commercial crime statistics have nearly doubled in just over a decade: from 76,744 cases in 2013/14 to 143,600 in 2024/25.”
How commercial crime quietly became SA’s most dangerous growth industryThe Namibian
Daily Maverick reported disturbing questions raised by government's intention to appeal against the judgment in February 2026
“But, as Daily Maverick reported in February 2026, disturbing questions have been raised by the government's intention to appeal against the judgment.”
Payment pending — how the Fred Daniel matter taints the state attorneyThe Namibian
Daily Maverick broke a story about Steenhuisen's unpaid personal credit card debt
“South Africa's Daily Maverick news site broke a story – that Steenhuisen had a default court judgment against him for unpaid personal credit card debt of almost 150,000 rand ($9,400; £6,700)”
How the tide turned against the leader of South Africa's second-biggest partyThe Namibian
Daily Maverick sought comment from Zuma's MK party spokesperson on the dinner
“Zuma's MK party spokesperson did not respond to Daily Maverick's request for comment on Saturday, but comments will be added if received after publication.”
Revealed: Jacob Zuma’s intimate dinner with Jeffrey EpsteinThe Namibian
Commission secretary Jeremy Michaels told Daily Maverick that the commission couldn't give details on due diligence process
“Commission secretary Jeremy Michaels told Daily Maverick on Tuesday that the commission couldn't give details as to the due diligence process its investigators had used to verify the authenticity of the messages, but it is likely to have been thorough.”
Questions Senzo Mchunu may have to answer at the Madlanga CommissionThe United States admitted 7,727 people as refugees over several months, nearly all from South Africa, under a Trump administration policy, while immigrants from other countries already legally in America have struggled to obtain work authorization and other benefits.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The United States admitted 7,727 people as refugees over several months, nearly all from South Africa, under a Trump administration policy, while immigrants from other countries already legally in America have struggled to obtain work authorization and other benefits.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Portia Anyamba, a former South African Air Force brigadier general, was sentenced to six months in jail in the United States for acting as a foreign agent under South African control and falsifying information in a security clearance application. She worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the US's largest science and energy laboratory.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
An article from Daily Maverick argues that the possible targeting of journalist Marianne Thamm by South African state intelligence represents a serious threat to press freedom and democratic accountability. The piece contends that attacks on journalists investigating state institutions undermine the public's constitutional right to know and threaten a key pillar of democracy.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Constitutional Court unanimously ruled on 2 July that Cape Town's government is responsible for perpetuating spatial apartheid and must take immediate action toward equitable housing distribution, contradicting the DA's earlier claims that the term was "propaganda language."
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Malawian migrants are departing South Africa at a temporary repatriation site in Durban, driven by fears of xenophobic violence and anti-foreigner marches scheduled across the country. Migrants express sadness and anxiety about leaving their homes of several years, with concerns about whether repatriation efforts will meet existing deadlines.
30 June 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that anti-immigrant movements in South Africa distract from the real causes of the country's development failures, including state capture and high-level corruption that have cost the government far more in lost public funds than immigration.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Helen Zille, the DA's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, is running a nine-month campaign that includes viral videos and social media content to highlight service delivery failures. The DA believes it needs around 500,000 votes to secure an outright majority in the city, though low voter registration and voter apathy pose obstacles.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The South African government has dismissed a claim by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that 10 foreign nationals were killed in anti-immigration protests, with an investigation revealing a mixture of unrelated organised crime hits and disputed death tolls in Mossel Bay.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will not resign over the Phala Phala matter and instead will seek a legal review of Parliament's Section 89 panel report on the theft of US$580,000 from his farm. The review process could take up to a year and may run in parallel with an impeachment committee proceeding.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Swapo, like other former liberation movements in government, has failed to deliver on promises and uses patriotic narratives of its struggle history to justify remaining in state control, drawing parallels to critiques of post-colonial African governments by Frantz Fanon and Angolan author Pepetela.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A South African Police Service (SAPS) captain attached to the Protection and Security Services has been suspended for allegedly manipulating the police financial system to pocket millions of rands while falsely claiming the money was for transport expenses related to President Ramaphosa's protection detail. The investigation found the funds were not received by the close protectors but were withdrawn in lump sum cash amounts by the officer.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A Daily Maverick investigation suggests South African Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe falsely told Parliament that two luxury SUVs were donated to the ANC Women's League, when records show the vehicles were registered in the names of her children in April 2024 without being disclosed in accordance with government ethics codes.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
While fraud victims and observers commonly suspect insider involvement and banks insist their systems prevent employee fraud, recent court cases — including convictions of an FNB consultant and arrest of a Nedbank forensic investigator — show employees have successfully exploited their access to defraud customers.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Auditor-General has found that the Department of Defence cannot locate portions of its R68.95-billion military asset base, raising concerns about resource management as the country deploys 2,200 troops to crime-affected areas at an estimated cost of R823 million. The department has received recurring qualified audit opinions for nine years and overspent its budget by R2.51 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's court appearance and testimony at the Madlanga Commission reveals how tender kingpins like Edwin Sodi cultivate political insiders through access and luxury to capture the state from within. The case demonstrates a pattern of patronage networks and state capture similar to previous scandals, with Matlala allegedly developing connections to high-ranking politicians before his arrest on fraud and corruption charges related to a R360-million police tender.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Commercial crime cases in South Africa have nearly doubled over a decade to 143,600 in 2024/25, becoming the only major crime category besides kidnapping that is growing relentlessly, yet official statistics lack granular breakdowns and institutions remain largely silent about the problem. Digital banking fraud has surged 86% in a single year, with AI-enabled scams and social engineering tactics making fraud increasingly sophisticated and difficult to track.
23 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has rejected allegations reported by Forbidden Stories that the ruling party requested Russian support for its 2024 election campaign. The non-profit news organization reported leaked documents from Russian operatives allegedly showing requests for funding and involvement in disinformation operations, including a fabricated letter claiming UK financing of the opposition IPC.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A data leak reviewed by Forbidden Stories reveals that Russian influence agents engaged in covert operations during South African election campaigns between 2019 and 2025, including secret meetings with ANC leadership, smear campaigns against opposition parties, and fabricated documents. The Company, a network run by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, allocated significant budgets for online disinformation campaigns and paid social media influencers to target political opponents.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Conservationist Fred Daniel won a R306-million damages award against South Africa's government in September 2025 for state-sponsored persecution, but the office of the state attorney delayed paying his R700,000 in taxed costs for six months until asset seizure was threatened. The government has announced an appeal against the judgment despite the defendant agency stating it cannot afford the legal fees.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
According to The Namibian opinion analysis, South Africa's ANC faces upcoming local elections with little apparent focus on governance messaging or strategic preparation, while the party confronts internal disputes, municipal service delivery failures, and dwindling support from coalition partners that could further erode its electoral standing.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance and agriculture minister in the coalition government, announced he will step down at the party's April congress following multiple scandals including poor handling of foot-and-mouth disease, personal financial mismanagement, and controversy over the sacking of Environment Minister Dion George. His departure opens the way for successors including Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen announced he will not seek re-election for a third term, stating his focus must shift to combating foot-and-mouth disease as agriculture minister. Minister Dean Macpherson praised Steenhuisen's decision as showing "remarkable political intuition and maturity," while potential successors including Macpherson and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis position themselves ahead of the party's April elective congress, with nominations opening on 27 February.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
John Steenhuisen's decision to step down as Democratic Alliance leader follows revelations about his personal credit card debt and the controversial removal of environment minister Dion George. The incoming leader must navigate questions about race, the party's electoral strategy, and its relationship with the ANC government—while protecting the DA's core claim to integrity that distinguishes it from other parties.
5 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Newly released US Department of Justice records show convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cultivated extensive ties to South Africa dating to the 1980s, networked with prominent South African businessmen and officials, and used scouts and intermediaries to recruit South African women and girls through modelling opportunities and employment offers.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance, is being forced to announce he will not seek a third term as party leader, with the decision framed as his own choice to focus on his Agriculture minister portfolio. In exchange, he is permitted to retain his ministerial post, though party insiders say the decision was driven by internal pressure, an FLC investigation into his conduct, and concerns that his controversies—including credit card debt and perceived mishandling of a cattle crisis—could damage the party's prospects in upcoming local elections.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Released US Justice Department documents show that former South African President Jacob Zuma attended an intimate dinner organised by late sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein at the Ritz Hotel in London on 5 March 2010, during an official state visit to the United Kingdom.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini used a derogatory term for African migrants and called for them to leave the country during a speech in KwaZulu-Natal, drawing concern from human rights experts who warn his comments risk encouraging vigilante action against foreigners in a region already marked by anti-migrant tensions.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →