Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Sabelo Skiti

Creator

Sabelo Skiti

Sabelo Skiti is an investigative journalist.

Outlier: The embattled public works department’s minister, Patricia de Lille, is the only non-ANC member in the cabinet, and certainly no stranger to controversy. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Toxic power struggle hits public works

With infighting and allegations of corruption and poor planning, the department’s top management looks like a scene from ‘Survivor’

SANDF members patrol Alexandra on operations to police residents during the Covid-19 national lockdown. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

SANDF hid R200m expenditure on ‘Covid’ drug it can’t use

Military health officials are puzzled by the defence department importing a drug that has not been approved for treating coronavirus symptoms from Cuba

SANDF members patrol Alexandra on operations to police residents during the Covid-19 national lockdown. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

SANDF hid R200m expenditure on ‘Covid’ drug it can’t use

Military health officials are puzzled by the defence department importing a drug that has not been approved for treating coronavirus symptoms from Cuba

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Too broke for Mboweni to budget

The scramble to find cash for an SAA bailout, Covid-19 grants and civil servants’ demands force postponement of mini-budget

The air force’s
Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters, which are manufactured
by Denel. File photo by Born/Gallo Images/The Times &
Sebabatso Mosamo/Sunday Times

SAA bailout raises more questions

As the government continues to grapple with the troubles facing the airline, it would do well to keep on eye on the impending Denel implosion

Trial date: The VBS heist trial is expected to begin only in early 2022. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

How graft arrests came together

Learning from its failure to turn the Schabir Shaik conviction into one for Jacob Zuma, the state is now building an effective system for catching thieves. Khaya Koko, Sabelo…

Recently-appointed Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says she took on the role to “clean up” the department, in the wake of the recent R1 billion Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship scandal.

De Lille unfazed by acting-DG’s baggage

Latest twist in public works saga suggests minister quashed query into doctored corruption report

Last week Eastern Cape high court judge Buyiswa Majiki issued an order interdicting the department, the second respondent, from making any payments on the contract, and the two companies from providing any further services.

High court puts temporary halt on R500-million tablet tender

State technology agency wins first battle in IT tender war, with court to hear rest of the matter on urgent basis

Head of the Hawks Godfrey Lebeya during an interview on September 07, 2018 (Photo by Gallo Images/Sunday Times/Alaister Russell)

Hawks eye ANC politicians next

Top cop says more big players will be added to the list of accused as the state prepares to go to court

Ronald Lamola. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Justice department hit by a costly cyberattack

The theft of R10-million from the Guardian’s Fund account prompts the justice department to freeze all accounts until an audit can determine the extent of the damage

Edwin Sodi before his testimony at the Zondo commission.

Hawks arrest Free State ‘asbestos project’ players

Businessman Edwin Sodi and senior civil servants are among those arrested over the R200-million theft of state funds

Potential white elephant: The construction site of Gauteng’s emergency Covid-19 hospital in Carletonville on the West Rand. It has cost about R500-million, but equipment for patients will add to that. (Paul Botes/M&G)

Emergency hospital: Gauteng’s potential R500-million albatross

Construction of an emergency Covid-19 hospital is running months behind deadline, promising to come online only after Gauteng’s peak

An image from Mzwandile Masina’s tweet advocating for the release of Andile Lungisa.

Convict Andile Lungisa resists calls to quit city council

Former youth league leader Andile Lungisa cites ANC constitution, and argues assault is not corruption in a bid to keep his party membership

‘Instability and chaos’: A veterinarian vaccinates a calf (above). The vaccines OBP produces are crucial for the farming sector, but productivity has been affected by management issues.  (Fabian Sommere/Getty Images)

Corruption allegations resurface at state biology lab

The entire finance department senior management at Onderstepoort Biological Products, including an alleged whistleblower, have been suspended amid corruption probes

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the SANDF deployment in his 12 February State of the Nation Address.

SANDF mum on serial rapist claim

An internal report on sexual offences at a military academy says the defence force failed a deceased rape victim and has called for an internal investigation

Under fire: Minister Patricia De Lille is facing several allegations of irregularities. Suspended director general Sam Vukela alleges she has disregarded administrative processes. (Photo: David Harrison/M&G)

The farm, the millions and Patricia De Lille

An irregular farm lease is at the centre of a legal tussle between Patricia de Lille and her suspended director general at public works

South African National Defence Force patrolling at the border in Musina, Limpopo between South Africa and Zimbabwe. (Oupa Nkosi)

De Lille adviser hung out to dry on ‘washing line’

A report by the Special Investigating Unit has urged Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille to take action against Melissa Whitehead and others

Former Eskom chief executive, André de Ruyter. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Eskom and treasury fight needs urgent attention

Early signs of instability are creeping into struggling power utility as forces fighting for space in the parastatal take battle to the very top at Megawatt Park

Former Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg)

Eskom and treasury locked in multibillion-rand tender bunfight

Independent investigation into Eskom reveals fractious board discussions, involving accusations and counter-accusations, as allegations of corruption sink contract

Besides the loss of much-needed revenue for Denel, the cancellation could signal severe reputational harm as the company is eyeing R12-billion worth of work in the coming months. (Dean Hutton/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Bank guarantees foil Denel’s R4.5-bn Egypt contract

Loss of work is the last thing the beleaguered state enterprise needs