Politics & Government

Qubudile Dyantyi · Appointments

Qubudile Dyantyi · Accountability

Mathole Motshekga · Constitutional Amendment

Vincent Smith · Legislation

Vincent Smith · Accountability

Cecil Burgess · Legislation

B-BBEE: South Africa's Transformation Law — History, Impact, and Debate

B-BBEE is South Africa's legislated framework for redressing the economic imbalances created by colonialism and apartheid. It does this by requiring companies that want government contracts, licences, or other government relationships to show progress on seven elements: ownership by black people, management control by black people, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and socio-economic development. Companies are scored and rated, and their rating affects their ability to participate in the economy.

Mpumalanga R114 Million School Maintenance Tender Fraud

The Mpumalanga Department of Education budgeted roughly R114 million for emergency repairs at 21 rural schools. Hawks investigators say officials and contractors inflated prices, billed for ghost work and split proceeds. A former acting HOD, acting CFO and dozens of suppliers were rounded up in a four-province takedown in February 2026 — totals in headlines ranged from about 20 to 36 suspects as operations widened.

Cape Town R1.6 Billion Construction Tender Fraud

The government pays companies to build roads and manage waste in Cape Town. Some officials who decide which companies get these contracts are accused of colluding with certain businesses to give them the contracts unfairly. The police raided 26 buildings looking for proof. Three city officials are under investigation. The total value of the contracts under investigation is R1.6 billion — but this does not mean all of that money was stolen.

R19 Billion Lost in Water Sector Mismanagement (2023/24)

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s 2023/24 municipal water disclosures quantify roughly R18.9 billion in technical and commercial losses nationally — effectively R52 million per day — alongside tens of millions of people facing unreliable supply. Gauteng municipalities alone shed about R6.9 billion; KwaZulu-Natal R3.45 billion. Fifty-five material irregularities added R1.76 billion in booked financial losses. SIU in 2025 separately said it referred 350 criminal dockets and chased R6.2 billion in civil recoveries linked to water-sector corruption.

Gauteng SASSA Officials Arrested in R260 Million Grant Fraud

Gauteng SAPS and SASSA integrity teams arrested four regional officials in March 2025 for an alleged R260 million ghost-beneficiary / cloned-card scheme run out of Johannesburg and Soweto. Further counts and private-sector accomplices were added as card laboratories were dismantled.