The world of “high finance” can be brutal and duplicitous. Court proceedings involving the JSE’s largest brokerage Peresec has provided a rare window into this cut-throat world – and raise questions about market oversight.

Companies at the centre of amaBhungane’s #ScamEmpire investigation are belatedly facing regulatory action.

[ICYMI] Betway’s parent company has a labyrinthine international structure. Listed in New York, but ultimately registered in Guernsey, with more than 100 subsidiaries around the world.

[ICYMI] Bullies in Parliament: “Don't bully me.” / “I'm not bullying you. I'm requesting.” / “It’s Honourable Mantashe that is trying to bully this meeting. It's not acceptable.” / “No, I'm not bullying… You want to change [the programme] – you are bullying me.”

Peresec, the single largest broker on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange allegedly “unlawfully” seized control of several companies using hardball tactics and subterfuge.

The wheels turn slowly, but better late than never. Companies featured in amaBhungane’s #ScamEmpire investigation have had their financial services licences provisionally withdrawn by the FSCA this week.

South Africa’s intelligence watchdog has been out of office for nearly a year. Imtiaz Fazel was suspended while Parliament’s intelligence committee investigated allegations against him. But new documents raise questions about how far that investigation has actually gone.

[ICYMI] Flyfofa Aviation Training paid Teejay Properties and JMF Promotions about R13-million combined for accommodation, transport, uniforms and learning materials.

Finally, some action! The financial regulator this week provisionally withdrew the licenses to companies featured in amaBhungane’s #ScamEmpire investigation.

We wrote about our experience in Parliament during what we felt was a rushed and absurd passing of the Public Procurement Act [https://amabhungane.org/public-procurement-bill-constitutional-court/]

Advocacy: Why we are challenging the Public Procurement Act

amabhungane.org

Who is watching South Africa’s spies? For nearly a year, the country’s intelligence watchdog has been sidelined while questions have mounted over the process that led to his suspension.

Eskom concedes it made R3-billion irregular payments to diesel suppliers to keep the lights on last year. 

UPDATE: Eskom admits to R3-billion in payments “outside of contractual terms”

amabhungane.org

From Our Archive: In 2020, Inhlanhla Ventures lost money when stock they invested in fell and then rose suspiciously. Suspecting market manipulation, Inhlanhla asked the JSE for information on the trades, hoping that if it showed illegality they could recoup their losses.

Peresec: Trusted JSE captain or feared corporate pirate? Read our analysis of the case involving the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s biggest broker and how it captured billion-rand companies and bypassed some key takeover rules. https://bit.ly/4hwCQ0X

The world of “high finance” can be brutal and duplicitous. Court proceedings involving the JSE’s largest brokerage Peresec has provided a rare window into this cut-throat world – and raise questions about market oversight. Read amaBhungane’s analysis. https://bit.ly/4hwCQ0X

Peresec, the single largest broker on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange allegedly “unlawfully” seized control of several companies using hardball tactics and subterfuge.

Peresec: Trusted JSE captain or feared corporate pirate? Read our analysis of the case involving the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s biggest broker and how it captured billion-rand companies and bypassed some key takeover rules.

ANALYSIS | Peresec: Trusted JSE captain or feared corporate pirate?

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How did the JSE’s biggest broker allegedly capture billion-rand companies ‘on the cheap’? The full amaBhungane analysis lands tomorrow morning. Don’t miss it.

A trusted JSE captain or a feared corporate pirate? The full amaBhungane analysis lands tomorrow morning. Don’t miss it.

[ICYMI] Bullies in Parliament: “Don't bully me.” / “I'm not bullying you. I'm requesting.” / “It’s Honourable Mantashe that is trying to bully this meeting. It's not acceptable.” / “No, I'm not bullying… You want to change [the programme] – you are bullying me.”

The Wedela shooting has again put South Africa’s illegal gold mining economy in focus. But what happens to the gold once it leaves the shafts? In #TheLaundry: City of Gold, @DewaldvanRensb1 traced the trade into refineries, companies and financial networks above ground.

The #Laundry: City of Gold Archives - AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism

Money laundering is the organised crime enabling all other organised crime, though it sometimes occupies a legal grey zone. AmaBhungane has embarked on a major series to pierce the secrecy and obfuscation that are central to the enterprise.

bit.ly

World News Day is a reminder that journalism in the public interest matters. From exposing corruption and holding power to account, to defending access to information and protecting journalists doing difficult work independent journalism helps strengthen democracy.

[ICYMI] How does a parolee disappear from the system? AmaBhungane traced the breakdown inside South Africa’s parole monitoring system, from missed check-ins to failed police coordination.

Untraceable: Correctional services can’t locate tens of thousands of absconded parolees

amabhungane.org

Who watches South Africa’s spies when the person tasked with watching them is sidelined? Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel has been suspended since October 2025. 

Investigation into IGI alleged misconduct stalled, as secret fund millions remain without scrutiny

amabhungane.org

From Our Archive: 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.

[ICYMI] 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. 

The fashion icon, her husband, the NSF and the SIU: the plot thickens

bit.ly

[ICYMI] A golden opportunity to prosecute alleged gang leader Ralph Stanfield was squandered by SARS’s unaccountable two-year delay in laying criminal charges for tax evasion and fraud.

From Our Archive: In 2020, Inhlanhla Ventures lost money when stock they invested in fell and then rose suspiciously. Suspecting market manipulation, Inhlanhla asked the JSE for information on the trades, hoping that if it showed illegality they could recoup their losses.

[ICYMI] Flyfofa Aviation Training received R148-million in bursary funding from the National Skills Fund. Our investigation confirmed its claimed flying hours did not match pilot logbooks and a credit note of R3.8-million had to be issued by Flyfofa to the NSF over outstanding hours.

Bullies in Parliament: “Don't bully me.” / “I'm not bullying you. I'm requesting.” / “It’s Honourable Mantashe that is trying to bully this meeting. It's not acceptable.” / “No, I'm not bullying… You want to change [the programme] – you are bullying me.”