ManagementnarrativereportfortheyearendedMarch31,2016

ABOUTUS

ORGANISATIONALUPDATE Goingindependent

Publicationstrategy

Governancestructureandpeople

Funding

Taxexemption

ACTIVITIES Investigationsprogramme

Skillstransferprogramme

Advocacyprogramme

LOOKINGFORWARD

Jo’burg beetles: SA fellow Mkhululi Ndamase, investigators Sally Evans and Tabelo Timse, Lesotho fellow Billy Ntaote, Zimbabwe fellow Herbert Moyo, associate partner Drew Forrest, digital editor Deshnee Subramany, administrator Gugu Nyoni

AboutusTheamaBhunganeCentreforInvestigativeJournalism,previouslytheM&GCentreforInvestigativeJournalism,1isanon-profitcompanythatdevelopsinvestigativejournalism—apublicinteresttaskwebelievepromotesfree,capableandworthymediaandopen,accountableandjustdemocracy.Wedosothroughthebestpracticeofinvestigativejournalism,skilltransfersandinformationrightsadvocacy.

ThereviewperiodwasthelastduringwhichwehadaserviceagreementwithM&GMedia,theowneroftheMail&Guardian.Undertheagreement,M&Gwastheprimarypublishersofourcontent,forwhichitpaidaservicefee.Wealsopublishedviaourwebsite,amaBhungane.co.za,andad-hocviaothertitles.

WerelaunchedinApril2016tobecomeSouthernAfrica’spre-eminentindependentinvestigativejournalismnon-profit,andtopursueadistributedpublicationstrategy.

OrganisationalupdateGOINGINDEPENDENT

OnMarch19,2010,wewentlivewithourfirstspreadintheMail&Guardian:“ZumaIncorporated”.ThearticlestracedtheZumafamily’sbusinessinterests,openingafrontinreportingthathasremainedanenduringfeatureofJacobZuma’sscandal-plaguedpresidency.

Sixyearson,wehavespreadourwingstokeepanevenkeenereyeonthosewithpoliticalandeconomicpower.WeterminatedourserviceagreementwithM&GMediaasourprimarypublisherwitheffectMarch31,2016.

Factorssupportingthedecisionincluded:

thecirculationandfinancialdeclineofSouthAfricanprintmediaingeneralandtheacceleratingtransitiontodigitalmedia,leveragedbyanexplosioninmobileinternetaccess;and

ourhungertohelpleadexperimentationandinnovationinthedeliveryofinvestigativeandaccountabilitycontenttorelevantyounger,wider,andunder-servicedaudiencesinSouthandSouthernAfrica.

Keyfeaturesofthechange,whichcameintoeffectimmediatelyafterthereviewperiod,are:

Werebranded,whichincludedstartingtotradeunderournewname,amaBhunganeCentreforInvestigativeJournalism.

Webecameadistributedpublisher:physicallytopublishviaarangeofprintpublications(toleveragetheimpactstillenjoyedbylegacymedia)anddigitallyviaarangeofwebpublishers,socialmediaandmobile(toexploitdigital’sinteractivityandubiquity).

Weshallalsoself-publishviaanewamaBhunganewebsite,whichwehopetolaunchinJuly2016.Intheinterim,weareself-publishingviaouroldsite,whichrunsontheM&G’sdigitalarchitectureandwhichitkindlyallowedustocontinueusing.Wegaveitabasicmakeovertoreflectournewidentity.

WestartedraisingfundsdirectlyfromthepublictohelpcovertheshortfallleftbytheterminationoftheM&GMediaserviceagreement.Whileweenvisagethemajorityofourfundingstilltocomefromfoundations,wewouldliketohelpestablishaculturewherereadersappreciateandcontributetothecostofpublicinterestjournalism.

1amaBhungane,ournicknameallalongandnowpartofourregisteredname,isisiZulufor“thedungbeetles”.ThenewnamewasregisteredbyCIPConJanuary29,2016.

Ourmandateremainsthesame.Weshallkeepdevelopinginvestigativejournalisminthepublicinterestthroughitsbestpractice,skilltransfersandadvocacy.

ThereismuchexcitementatamaBhungane.Ourstaffisreadyandwillingtotacklenewchallengesandexperimentinnewpublicationforms.

PUBLICATIONSTRATEGY

Theexplosioninmobileinternetaccessandtheuseofsocialmediaandmessagingservices,combinedwiththecontinuingdeteriorationinprintmediacirculationandrevenues,meansthatanyfuture-orientedpublicationstrategymusthavedigitalatitscore.

TothisendwehavecommissionedthedevelopmentofanewamaBhunganewebsiteandcontentmanagementsystem;havestartedusingFacebookandTwittermuchmoreaggressivelyandenvisagegettingontoWhatsApp;andhavelaunchedanemailnewsletter.

Wehavealsoformulatedapublicationstrategythatwillguideourtransition.

Thestrategy,inbrief:

Wearetotransformourselvesfrombeingacontentproviderreliantonasingleprint-drivenpublishertoadistributedpublisherreliantonamixofdigitalandprintplatforms.

Wewanttoreachandengagewithyounger,widerandunder-servicedaudiences;inparticularthethinkingandpoliticallyengagedindividualsattheircore;peoplewhowillassimilateinvestigativecontentanduseittobringaboutchange.

Givenourfreedomtofollowaudiences(aswedonotrelyonadvertising),andtheamassingofourtargetnewaudiencesonsocialmedia,messagingservicesandthemobileinternet,distributedpublishingtoarangeofthird-partydigitalplatformsisalogicalchoice.

Butwebelievethatunliketheclassicaldistributedpublishingmodel,thereisvaluetooindistributingviaprint,givenhowimpactfulitremainsinourregion,andafullownwebsite.

Thechoiceismotivatedbythenatureofourcontent.

Wehavealwaysfeltthattoinspireconfidence,weneedtoshowtheevidenceforourinvestigativeconclusions.Ourstories,inlinewithinternationalpractice,tendtobelengthy:1,000to3,000words.

Giventhecompetingneedsofevidence(forspecialistaudiencesandtherecord)andcompactness(forsocialmedia,messagingandmobile),weshallasamatterofcourseproducemaxi(fulllength,fullevidence),midi(roughly350words)andmini(tweet-sized)versionsofourstories,whilealsoexperimentinginvideo.

Hereareourthreeintendedsetsofplatformsandhowweshallengagewithaudiencesthroughthem:

Third-partydigital:foraudience,engagement

Thisiswhereourtargetaudiencesareamassing.Fornowthesematchesappearideal:

Minis—teasers and mini-statements of fact or finding—will go out on Twitter and WhatsApp, wherenecessarywithlinkstothemaxisonourwebsite.

Midis—stories more compact and opinionated than maxis—will go out on Facebook,WhatsApp and anemailnewsletter.Midiswillnecessarilybestrippedofsomeimportantcontentandevidence.Therewillbelinkstothemaxis,butmidiswillcontainsufficientinformationtostandontheirown.

Maxis—thefullfor-the-recordversion—willbeprovidedtonewssites,bothdigitally-nativesuchastheDailyMaverickandnewssitesassociatedwithprintpublishers.Maxismayalsobepublishedviasocial-media-likelong-formplatformssuchasMedium.

Videomay be key to reaching our target audiences given YouTube’s phenomenal growth in South Africa.Whilefullinvestigativevideoproductionrequiresresourcesandskillsbeyondourreach,wearecomfortablewithrecordedandlivevideoexplainersandhangouts.WeshallpostvideoonYouTubeandshareviaTwitter,FacebookandWhatsApp.

Weregardthird-partydigitalplatforms,socialmediainparticular,notonlyasmechanismstodelivercontent,butalsoasprimespacesforaudienceengagement.

Printmedia:fortheimpactofink

Wewant our journalism to have impact; to bring about change. Although printmedia is declining, it stillshapesthepublicdiscourseinSouthandSouthernAfrica.

Weshallnotsupplythesamestoriestodifferentpublishersastheywouldattachlittlevaluetocontentthatisnotexclusivetothem.Rather,weshallmatchstoriestopublishersforthebestfitbetweenstorytheme,publicationtypeandaudience.

Publisherswillbefreetorunourstoriesacrosstheirdifferenttitlesanddigitalproducts.

Weshallsupplythepublisherswithourmaxisand,iftheyneeditfortheir“tabloid”titles,ourmidis.

AmaBwebsite:forrecord,community,network

Althoughclassicaldistributedpublishingmightexcludeanownwebsitealtogether,webelievepublishingviaourwebsiteisimportantgivenourspecialistsubjectmatter.

Evidenceandtheintegrityofabodyofworkovertimearekeytothecredibilityofinvestigativejournalism.Whilethedistributionofourminis,midisandmaxisacrossanarrayofthird-partydigitalandprintplatformswillhelpusreachaudiencesandmakeanimpact,nonewillprovideacentralrepository;anareawhereuserscangetthefullversionofeachstory,inthecontextofourbodyofwork,fortherecord.

HerearethemajorfunctionsofthenewamaBwebsite(targetlivedate:July2016):

Publication and archiving of all maxis. Users served with minis or midis can see the full version here.Ongoingserieswillbebuiltinto“specialreport”pages.

Community.This iswherepeoplecane-walk intoournewsroom, learnaboutus,seewhatweareworkingon, hear us explain our latest findings, talk to us (via tip-offs and ultimately a forum feature), and getinvolved.Involvementwillincludeusersbeinggiventoolsto“i-vestigate”ascitizeninvestigators.

Network.Aportalwillshowcaseworkfromandlinkingtoanetworkofnon-profitpublicationpartners.Thisshould include investigativenon-profitswearenurturing inBotswanaandMalawiandhopefully theSouthAfricangrassroots reportingprojectGroundUp.MoreSouthandSouthernAfrican initiativesmaybeaddedlater.

Crowdfunding.Thewebsitewillprovidethebackboneforapublicfundraisingstrategy.

Atthetimeofwriting,wehadalreadyenteredpublicationagreementswithTimesMediaandDailyMaverick,andwereworkingtowardsthesamewithMedia24,M&GMediaandEyewitnessNews.OurFacebook,Twitterandinterimwebsiteofferingswereshowingsturdygrowth.

GOVERNANCESTRUCTUREANDPEOPLE

AmaBhunganeisgovernedbyaboardofdirectorsthatremainsasperthelastreorganisationinAugust2014:

Independentnon-executivechair:ProfTawanaKupe,deputyvicechancelloratWitsUniversity;

Non-executivedirectorsAngelaQuintal,whosteppeddownasMail&GuardianeditorinSeptember2015andisnowapressfreedomcampaigner,andNicholasDawes,HindustanTimeschiefeditorialofficer;and

ExecutivedirectorsStefaansBrümmerandStephen“Sam”Sole.

Wearelookingatoptionstoincreasetheboard’sdemographicrepresentivityandtoincludestaffrepresentation.

Ourstaffduringthereviewperiodconsistedof:

InvestigativeoldhandsandmanagingpartnersSamSoleandStefaansBrümmer,wholedamaBhunganejointlyatcorporateandeditoriallevel;investigated,coachedstaffandfellows;andparticipatedinadvocacy;

VeteranjournalistandteacherDrewForrest,associatepartner,whoranourskillstransferprogramme—whichinvolvedplayingnannytoourfellowsandincreasinglynurturingnewinvestigativeunits/centresintherestoftheSADCregion;

Ouradvocacycoordinator,KaraboRajuili—or“advocacydesk”asshelikestocallherselfgivenallshedoessingle-handedly—droveouradvocacyfortheinformationrightsinvestigativejournalistsneedwithflairandattentiontodetail;

DeshneeSubramany,whojoinedusinJuly2015andaccuratelydescribedherselfonTwitterasthe“indomitabledigitaleditoratamaBhungane”;

InvestigatorsTabeloTimse,CraigMcKuneandSallyEvans,thebeetlesatthecoreofwhatwedid;

InvestigatorLionelFaull,whosadlywasavailabletousonlypartsoftheyearandthenlargelyonafreelancebasisfromabroad,afterhisworkpermitrenewalwasrefused;and

GuguNyoni,ouradministrator,whodidanythingandeverything;and

Twotothreefellowsatatimewhojoinedusforthreemonthseachtolearnastheyworkedwithusoninvestigativestories.

WeintendappointinganotherinvestigatortofillthegapleftbyLionelassoonaswehavesufficientfundingcertainty.

FUNDING

Topreserveourindependence,wedonotacceptgovernmentorcorporatefunds,orfundsforspecificstories.

Weacknowledgethegrantsandtradingincomebelow.UnlessotherwiseindicatedtheywerefortheyearendedMarch31,2016.

BerthaFoundation R606,320 R16,857(re-grantofunusedfundsfrompreviousyear)

ClaudeLeonFoundation R1,000,000

MillenniumTrust R1,190,910 R191,612(re-grantofunusedfundsfrompreviousyear)

OSF-SA R1,250,000

OSISA US$50,000(forthe15monthstoDecember31,2015)

RAITHFoundation R800,000 R40,037(re-grantofunusedfundsfrompreviousyear)

SocialJusticeInitiative R300,000

M&GMedia(tradingincomecommitted) R2,396,281

Asisapparentfromthefigures,donorsappreciatetheimportanceofinvestigativejournalismtoahealthydemocracy.WehadbudgetedexpenditureofaboutR8.1-millionforthereviewperiod.

TheM&GMediaservicefeeconstitutedabout30%ofourbudget.Inthenewyear,wearewithoutthat.Strategiestocovertheshortfallinclude:

Wehavestartedapublicfundraisingcampaign.Weaskmembersofthepublictodonateone-offormonthlyatspecifiedlevelstobecome“amaBsupporters”.ThekeypropositionisthatsupportingamaBhunganemeanssupportingdemocracy.Socialmediawillbeusedextensively.Untilournewwebsite,whichwillprovideadonationsarchitecture,goeslive,weareusingdonationsportalGivenGain.Earlyindicationsarethatpublicfundraisingishardwork,butviable.

WehavesecuredsubstantialincreasesfromexistingfunderstheMillenniumTrust(toR1.9-million)andOSF-SA(toR2-million)forthenewyear.However,ashortfallremainsandwearelookingatapproachinganadditionalfunderorfunders.

Althoughthereisheightenedfinancialriskgoingforward,particularlyinrelationtotheunknownterrainofpublicfunding,wearecautiouslyoptimisticthatweshallbeabletocontinueoperatingatthecurrentlevelinthenewyear.

TAXEXEMPTION

Afterabureaucratichaulspanningyears,theSouthAfricanRevenueServicegrantedusPublicBenefitOrganisation(PBO)statusinAugust2015,exemptingusfromtaxesandmakingdonationstoustax-deductible.

AccreditationagencyNGOSourcecertifiedusequivalenttoaUSpubliccharity(an“equivalencydetermination”)inJanuary2016.Thiswillfacilitategrant-makingbyUS-basedfoundations.

ActivitiesOurthreeprogrammes—investigations,skilltransfersandadvocacy—wereconceivedasaholisticresponsetoinvestigativejournalism’sunderdevelopment.Wereportonourworkundereachprogrammeforthereviewperiod.

INVESTIGATIONSPROGRAMME

Objectives:Todevelopbestpracticeinourfieldbyproducingmajorinvestigativestoriesthatareaccurateandfair,advancemethodsandstandards,setanexampletothewidermedia,exposewrongdoing,andenablepeopletoholdpowertoaccount;Toprovideafoundationforourskillstransferandadvocacyprogrammes.

Oursmallteamofinvestigatorshavecontinuedproducingstoriesthatshapedthenewsagendabecauseoftheiroriginalcontentandpublicinterestvalue.Duringthereviewperiodwepublishedsome220investigativeandrelatedstoriesviatheMail&Guardian,Mail&GuardianOnline,ourwebsiteamaBhungane.co.zaandadhocviaourfellows’homepublications.

InJune2015,amaBhunganewasnamedPrintFinancialJournalistoftheYearintheSanlamAwardsforExcellenceinFinancialJournalism.ThiswasforourPatronageFinanceseries,whichtracedlargeinvestmentdecisionsbythePublicInvestmentCorporationandIndustrialDevelopmentCorporationthatappearedtobemotivatedbypatronagepoliticsratherthanvaluetothestatepensionersandpublictheyaretoserve.Wewelcomedtheawardasarecognitionofoureffortsbettertounderstandandreportonthecomplexitiesofcorporatewrongdoing.

WealsoachievedtwoplacesinthetoptenoftheprestigiousTacoKuiperawardsforinvestigativejournalism.

Whilewemissedthetopthreeslots,ourcoverageofthecountry’scontroversialnuclearpowerplansearnedpraise,withconvenerofjudgesAntonHarbernoting:“Aswehavecometoexpectofthisteam,itwasdetailedandthoroughworkthatplayedakeyroleinensuringpublicscrutinyofanissueofnationalimportance.”

TheotherentrywasacollectiontitledTheWreckingBall,which,thejudgesnoted,“showastartlingcaptureofthejusticesystembyapresidencyintentonprotectingitself,itsalliesandpatrons,evenatthecostofsomeofthemoreimportantpublicinstitutions,suchastheHawksandtheNPA”.

Storiesthatstoodoutduringthereviewperiodincluded:

OurrevelationsoftheextensivereachofthecontroversialGuptafamilyviatheirinfluenceatstatecompaniesDenel,EskomandTransnet—andthewayinwhichtheirpartner,PresidentJacobZuma’ssonDuduzane,stoodtobenefitfromtheircontroversialpurchaseofOptimumCoal.ThesestoriessupplementedourongoingcoverageoftheGuptassinceamaBhungane’sfoundingin2010,whichcontributedsignificantlytothefactualbasisforthestormthatbrokeoverthemand“statecapture”afterthen-financeministerNhlanhlaNenewasfiredinDecember2015.

OurexposéofaboutR100-millionin“commissions”—apparentkickbacks—paidandpromisedbynationaltelecomsoperatorNeoteltoaletterboxcompanytosecurelucrativeTransnetcontracts.TheletterboxcompanywaslinkedtoaformerlieutenantoftheGuptafamily,friendsofthepresident.NeotelconfirmeditsCEOandCFOwenton“specialleave”aswewenttoprint.TheysubsequentlyleftNeotel’semploy.

OurcoverageoftheFifa2010kickbackscandal,whichhelpeddebunksportsministerFikileMbalula’sprotestationsthata$10-millionpaymentfor“footballdevelopment”intheAfricandiasporawasnotabribe.

OurtrackingofthedamageinflictedoninstitutionsincludingtheNationalProsecutingAuthority,DirectorateofPriorityCrimesInvestigation(theHawks),IndependentPoliceInvestigativeDirectorateandSARevenueService(SARS)asthestrugglefortheircontrolintensified.

OurexposéofastakeheldbyChancellorHouse,theANCinvestmentfront,inaproposednewpowerstationproject.Weekslater,theUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommissionrevealedchargesagainstmultinationalengineeringfirmHitachiforillicitpaymentstoChancellorHouseinrespectoftwoearlierpowerstations,basedinsignificantpartonfactsfirstexposedbyourStefaansBrümmerandSamSolebeforeamaBhungane’sformation.HitachisettledthechargeswithaUS$19-millionpayment.

Inkeepingwithourobjectiveofpromotingopen,accountableandjustdemocracy,wetrytomanageourlimitedresourcestobothhighlightandcounteractanydemocraticdeficit.Indoingsothereareanumberoffocusareasthatinformourdecisionsaboutwhattoinvestigateandreport.Areasworthnotingfromthereviewperiod:

Themanipulationofinstitutions:Theconcernweexpressedpreviouslyaboutthedamagebeingperpetratedatstateinstitutionshasincreased.Majorcentresofaccountabilityareincreasinglyfallingtothecontrolofaself-servinggroupofpoliticiansandofficials.

AffectedinstitutionsincludetheSAPoliceService,Hawks,IndependentPoliceInvestigativeDirectorate,NationalProsecutingAuthorityandSARS.

Whiletheseinstitutionswillcontinuetofunctionatoneleveloranother,"anarchitectureofimpunity"appearstohavebeencemented—entailinganewleadershipstratumthatiscommittedtoprotectingtheinterestsoftheirpoliticalpatronsatthecostoftheirowninstitutionalandconstitutionalduty.

Aswelookbackoverthereviewperiod,weseemanyofourkeyinstitutionsinaparlousstate,withtheprosecutingauthoritynoweffectivelycontrolledbyawomanwhohasmadeherpoliticalimperativesquiteplain;theHawksledbyamanpronouncedbyajudgeaslackingintegrityandwhohaspackedthenextlevelofleadershipwithhiscohorts;andthedirectorofthepoliceinvestigativedirectorateremainssuspended.

Wehavebeenattheforefrontofcoveringthesedevelopments,particularlythecasesinvolvingdeputynationaldirectorofpublicprosecutionsNomgcoboJiba,defactoinchargeoftheprosecutingauthority.

WehavealsobeenproactiveindrawingattentiontoasimilarprocessatSARS,followingtheappointmentofTomMoyane—amanwholookedafterZuma’schildreninexile—ascommissioner.Wearecurrentlybeing

suedbySARSforastorythatraisedconcernedabouttheallegedcaptureofthiscrucialinstitution.Weintendtodefendtheactionvigorouslyandalsouseittochallengetheblanketofabsolutesecrecyaroundtaxmatters,whichoftenservesonlytoprotecttherichandpowerful.

TheshapeofthepurportedinvestigationbytheHawksoffinanceministerPravinGordhanoverhisinvolvementintheso-calledSARS“RogueUnit”servestounderlinethecorrectnessofourconcernsoverthemanipulationofthecriminaljusticesystem.

Stateownedenterprises:Aspeciesofstatecaptureisalsoplayingitselfoutatthelevelofstate-ownedcompanies,wheremanagementinstabilityandbailoutsfromthefiscushavebecomethenorm.

StoriesduringtheperiodfocusedonSouthAfricanAirways,whoseboardiscontroversiallyledbypresidentialcronyDuduMyeni,Eskom,rockedbywholesaledismissalsjustbeforethereviewperiod,Transnet,whereweexposedtheNeotelkickbackscandal,andtheNuclearEnergyCorporation,wherewerevealedaboardroommeltdownagainstthebackdropofthevauntedprogrammetobuildnewnuclearpowerstations.

OfparticularconcernistheapparentswayoftheGuptafamily,thepresident’sfriendsandhisson’sbusinesspartner.Theyappeartohavetargetedstate-ownedenterprisesforwhatseemstobeacoordinatedstrategyofbuildingpoliticalinfluence.InFebruary2016weexposedthewayinwhichthefamilyhasmuscledinonDenel,thestate-ownedarmsmanufacturer—andinMarchwepublishedananalysisoftheextensivenetworkofpotentialinfluencethefamilyhasbuiltupatTransnetandEskom.

Developmentshere—andthefateofSA'sill-considerednuclearambitions—willbeapriorityintheperiodahead.

Theprivatesector:Whilewebelievewearecorrecttofocusmuchenergyonthestate,givenitscapacitytopromotesocialdevelopmentordecay,wehavealsochosensomeprivatesectortargetsforscrutiny.

DuringthereviewperiodwetookahardlookatmediagiantMultichoice’sroleinthebitterlobbyingoverSA’stransitiontodigitalterrestrialtelevision,aswellasatBotswanasupermarketchainChoppies,whosebusinessmodelappearstoincludedeliveringbenefitstopowerfulmembersofthatcountry’selite.

Wealsoinvestedenormousenergyinacross-borderinvestigationintointernationalprofitshiftingbycommunicationsgiantMTN,whichwashighlypraisedbytaxinsiders.

Whilethereportingfelloutsideofthereviewperiod,wewerealsooneoftheglobalpartnerschosenbytheInternationalConsortiumofInvestigativeJournaliststounpacktheso-called“PanamaPapers”—ahugeleakfromthefilesofMossackFonseca,afirmspecialisinginsettingupandmanagingopaqueoffshorefinancialstructures.

Thesinsofincumbency:AnotherdeliberatechoicehasbeennottoshyawayfromscrutinyoftheoppositionDemocraticAlliancewherethepartyholdspower,aswebelievethatpowertendstocorruptuniversally.OurtwostoriesonapparentconflictsofinterestinvolvingdevelopersandCityofCapeTownpoliticiansreflectthis.

Ruraldemocracy:Wearepleasedthatourdecisiontofocussomeenergyontheunder-reportedareaofruraldemocracyanddispossessionarebeginningtobearfruit.AsJonnySteinberghaspointedout,government'sredirectionofpowerandresourcestoamanufacturedruraleliteareanattempttoensuretherulingpartyholdsontoruralpower(asurbanclassesturnincreasinglyawayfromtheANCgivenitsshoddydeliveryrecord).

Thisreportingareadovetailedneatlywithourinterestinthetensionbetweenminingcompaniesandruralcommunities.Ourstoriesinthisareaincludedin-depthlooksatcontroversialAustralianminerMRC’sTorminoperationontheWestCoastandwould-beoperationatXolobeniontheWildCoast.OurFebruary2016featureonXolobeni—Wewilldieforourland,sayangryXolobenivillagersasdunemininglooms—wassadlyprophetic,asanti-miningleaderSikhosiphi“Bazooka”Rhadebewaskilledinanapparentassassinationamonthlater.

Inthereviewperiodtherehasbeenclosealignmentofourinvestigationsandadvocacyprogrammes,involvinginteraliaseveralaccess-to-informationrequeststiedtothenewsagenda.TheyrangefromarequesttoaccesstheStateSecurityAgency’sinterceptionrecordsonourSamSole,totheaffordabilitystudiesconductedinrelationtotheproposednuclearbuildprogramme.

Theperformanceoftheteamhasremainedhigh,despitethedisruptionscausedbythefinancialdistressandrestructuringofourpublishingpartnerduringtheperiod,M&GMedia.

Onceagainwedrawattentiontotheincreasinglydifficultenvironmentinwhichindependentmediaorganisationsoperate,financiallyandpolitically.Nevertheless,wearesatisfiedthatwehavenotonlyservedthepublicwithourcontinuedexposureofwrongdoing,butalsojournalistsandthemediaingeneralbydevelopingandshowcasingthebestpracticeofinvestigativejournalism.

SKILLSTRANSFERPROGRAMME

Objective:Toimpartinvestigativeskillstootherjournaliststhroughfellowshipsandextramuraltransfers.

Duringthereviewperiodwehosted11fellows,4SouthAfricanandtherestfromMalawi,Botswana,Zimbabwe,LesothoandSwaziland.Allofthefellowswereinvestigations-readyandreceptivetotheskillstowhichweexposedthem.

Wearealsopleasedtoreportonthefirsttangiblefruitsofakeyplankofourextramuralwork:twoinvestigativejournalismcentresandoneunitintherestoftheSADCarea,allstartedbyformeramaBhunganefellows,havebecomeoperational.AnothercentrehasbeenregisteredinZambiabuthasyettogetofftheground.

Ourfellowsfortheperiod:

MamelaGowa(AprtoJun2015)wasthesecondreportertojoinamaBhungane’sfellowshipprogrammefromtheDailyDispatch,theTimesMediaGroup’sEastLondontitle.ShedidasearchinginvestigationonthefailuresofapoliceinvestigationintothepossiblypoliticalmurderofBuffaloCityhousingofficialSabeloKondile,aswellasanexposéoftheructionsinsideBasketballSAthat—inafirstforus—ledtheMail&Guardian’ssportssection.

LameckMasina(AprtoJun2015),theVoiceofAmericacorrespondentinMalawi,joinedusaspartofoureffortstosupportthenewlyfoundedCentreforInvestigativeJournalismMalawi,ofwhichheisagoverningcouncilmember.Lameck’smostnoticeableachievementwastotrackdownformerMalawipresidentJoyceBanda,invisiblesincethepreviousyear’selection,toaSandtonhotel,wherehedidaground-breakinginterviewwithheraboutherpoliticalplans.

JoelKonopo(AprtoJun2015),latelyoftheBotswanaGuardian,wastheonlyformereditortohavejoinedthefellowshipprogramme.WithNtibinyaneNtibinyane,anotherformerfellow,JoelhasnowlaunchedBotswana’sINKCentreforInvestigativeJournalism.HismajorfeatwhilewithamaBhunganewasaspreadontheretailgroupChoppiesthathighlighteditslinkswithBotswana’spoliticalleadership.

MkhululiNdamase(JultoSep2015)wasourdebutrecruitfromTheHeraldinPortElizabeth.Anexperiencedreporterwithexcellentwritingskills,Mkhululididarangeofinvestigativestories,includingatake-outoncorruptioninthefishingrightsallocationprocessandanexposé,basedonleakedpolicedocuments,oncocainethatwentmissingfromthepoliceforensicservicesdivision.

HerbertMoyo(JultoSep2015),aformerteacherandthenajournalistwiththeZimbabweIndependent,focusedoninvestigationsofcorruptionandthesquanderingofresourcesinhishomecountry.Theseincludedaspreadonthestateagencyresponsiblefordistributingsocialgrants,whichhighlightedtheabuseofparastatalresourcesbypoliticiansoftherulingZanu-PF.

BillyNtaote(JultoSep2015)wasaseniorreporteroftheLesothoTimes,oneofthecountry’smaindailynewspapers.Inadditiontoanumberofpenetratinganalysesofpoliticsinthetroubledkingdom,herevealedthattheLesothoHighlandsWaterSchemehead,jailedfornineyearsin2000forcorruption,hadbeenreappointedtotheschemeasagovernmentadviseronahugesalary.

Mary-AnneGontsana(OcttoDec2015)wasthethirdfellowtojoinusfromGroundUp,aspartofourongoingmissiontosupportandstrengthentheCapeTown-basedcommunitynewswebsite.Mary-Annewasanarticulateandconfidentjournalistandacapablewriter.HermajorinvestigativestorieshighlightedallegedviolationsoflabourandenvironmentallawatTormin,theAustralian-owneddune-miningoperationontheWestCoast.

JosephineChinele(OcttoDec2015)wasthethirdMalawianfellowduringthereviewperiod.AmaturepersonwithexperienceinthemainstreamTimesGroupinMalawi,shehadaspecialistinterestinhealthandenvironmentalissues.Shedideye-catchinginvestigationsonthewidespreadpracticeofMalawi’spublichospitalsofaskingwomentobringtheirown“deliverykits”whengivingbirth,andanotheronARVsplunderedfromthesehospitalsbeingtradedonJohannesburg’sstreets.

PhathizweZulu(OcttoDec2015)cametousfromSwaziland’sonlytrulyindependentnewspublication,themonthlymagazineTheNation.Hisworkisnotdetailedduetoconditionsspecifictohishomecountry.

TariroWahinyira(JantoMar2016)alsojoinedusfromGroundUp,theCapeTown-basedcommunitywebsite.Tarirowashard-workinganddetermined.HermajorachievementwasaspreadontheconflictoverminingatXolobeniontheWildCoast,whichshevisitedandwheresheconductedsomestrikinginterviews.

EnellessNyale(JantoMar2016)wasamaBhungane’slatestrecruitfromMalawi,wheresheworkedforthefilmunitoftheinformationministry(butplannedtojointheTimesGroupasaninvestigatoronherreturn).SheconductedtwoinvestigationsonMalawianissues:oneonthecontroversialarmsdealbetweenformerpresidentJoyceBandaandSouthAfricanarmsdealerIvorIchikowitz,andtheotherexposingcriticalfoodshortagesinMalawi’sonlyrefugeecamp.ShealsocompletedaninvestigativefeatureonconflictbetweencommunityactivistsinMokopane,Limpopo,andtheneighbouringIvanplatsmine.

Wearepleasedtoreportonthefirsttangiblefruitsofakeyplankofourextramuralwork:twoinvestigativejournalismcentres,inBotswanaandMalawi,andaninvestigativeunitinNamibiabecomingoperational.

Helpingbuildandworkingwithsuchcentreshasbecomeakeyfocusofourextramuralskilltransfersasitcementssustainabilitybymakingeffortstodevelopinvestigativejournalismself-replicating.Wehaveworkedwiththesefourinstitutions:

TheINKCentreforInvestigativeJournalisminBotswanalaunchedinOctober2015.ThreeofthefourfoundingtrusteesareamaBhunganefellowshipalumni:NtibinyaneNtibinyane,untilrecentlytheeditorofMmegi,JusticeKavahematui,actingeditorofTheBotswanaGuardianandJoelKonopo,formereditoroftheBotswanaGuardian.Joel’sfellowshipwasduringthereviewperiod,notlongbeforethecentre’slaunch,tohelpequiphimforthetaskahead.

Ourassistanceconsistedoftraining,inspirationandadviceduringandaftertheabovefellowships,andincludedspecificguidanceonbudgeting,fundraising,etc.

WesignedanMOUwithINKinSeptember2015toregulateorganisationalandstorysupport,workshopsandfellowships.ThefirstworkshopundertheMOUwasinOctober2015asdetailedbelow.

TheCentreforInvestigativeJournalismMalawiwasfoundedin2013butstartedoperatinginearnestduringthereviewperiod.ItsexecutivedirectorisCollinsMtika,anamaBhunganefellowshipalumnus,anditscouncilincludesfivemoreofourofalumni:TheresaChapulapula,RexChikoko,LameckMasina,JosephineChineleandEnellessNyale.

WesignedanMOUwiththecentreinMay2015toregulateorganisationalandstorysupport,workshopsandfellowships.Weheldtwoworkshopswiththecentreasdetailedbelow,inAugust2015andFebruary2016.

TheNamibianhasrampedupitsinvestigativecapacityinrecentyearsthroughourhostingaseriesofitsreportersasfellows.

Withourencouragement,thenewspapermouldedthiscapacityintoadedicatedinvestigativeunitduringtheperiodunderreview.Inlate2015westarteddiscussionswithittowardsapossibleMOUtoensurecloser

collaboration.TheunitisstaffedbyamaBhunganealumniNdankiKahiurika,TileniMongudhiandShinoveneImmanuel.Theunitmayeventuallytogrowintoaseparateinvestigativecentre.

MediaOptionsforZambia,aninitiativeassociatedwiththepublicationTheBulletin&Record,hastoourknowledgefailedtogetoffthegrounddespiteourintermittentadviceoveranumberofyears.However,anew,independentcentrehasbeenregisteredandislookingtobecomeoperational.AmaBhunganeiskeentohelpthisinitiativegetofftheground.

WepresentedworkshopsandlecturesinSouthAfricaandtherestoftheSADCregion:

May2015:OurDrewForrestpresentedafull-dayinvestigativejournalismworkshopinMbabane,hostedbytheMediaInstituteofSouthernAfrica’sSwazilandchapter.ItwasattendedbyaboutadozenjournalistsandeditorsfromamongotherstheTimesofSwaziland,SwaziObserver,TheNationandIndependentNews.

Aug2015:OurSamSolepresentedatafour-daytrainingworkshopinBlantyreorganisedbytheCentreforInvestigativeJournalismMalawi.Itwasattendedby10traineeswhohadbeenselectedfrom80applicants.Sampresentedmodulesonsourceandstorymapping;evaluatingandprotectingsources;introductiontoaccountingterms;interrogatingpublicprocurement;andmedialawandethics.

Sep2015:DrewForrestconductedaday’sinvestigativejournalismtrainingforBotswanajournalistsinGaboroneorganisedbythePressCouncilofBotswana.Roughly20journalistsrepresentingBotswana’smainstreamprivatenewspapers,twosmallernewspapers,threeprivateradiostationsandaprivateTVstationattended.Thetrainingincludedthenatureandpurposeofinvestigativejournalism;therequirementofproofratherthanwildallegations;medialaw;andwritingupinvestigationsinareader-friendlyway.

Oct2015:DrewForrestpresentedtwosessionsattheINKCentreforInvestigativeJournalism’sinauguralworkshopinGaborone.Itwasattendedbyabout30reportersfromprint,onlineandbroadcastmedia.Drew’ssessionswereonthe“ABC”ofinvestigativeJournalism;andonthepitfallsofwritinginvestigativestoriesandhowtomakethemmoreinterestingandaccessibletoreaders.

Feb2016:DrewForrestconductedtwosessionsatafive-dayworkshoponinvestigativejournalisminLilongwe,Malawi,organisedbytheCentreforInvestigativeJournalismMalawi.TenjournalistsfromthefullspectrumofMalawi’smediawereselectedfrom60applicantstoattendtheworkshop.Forrest’sfirstmodulefocusedontheimportanceofearlystoryassessmentandplanning,whiletheseconddealtwithwritingtechniquesand“negotiatingtools”thatcanbeusedtosimplifycomplexinformationandmakeitmoredigestibleforreaders.

Ongoing:OurCraigMcKunepresentsoccasionallecturesininvestigativejournalismtoHonoursstudentsattheStellenboschUniversityjournalismdepartment.Duringtheperiodunderreviewthisinvolvedtwodaysoflecturingandclassinteraction.Healsosupportsthestudentsintheirinvestigativeprojectsandmarkspapers.

ADVOCACYPROGAMME

Objective:Tohelpsecuretheinformationrightsinvestigativejournalistsneedtodotheirwork.

ThePromotionofAccesstoInformationAct(PAIA)isavitaltoolforinvestigativejournaliststodotheirwork.Hence,exercisingittobuildabodyofexperienceandprecedentisoneobviousfocusofouradvocacyefforts.Butsadly,despiteamarginalimprovement,compliancewiththeActremainsunacceptablylow.2Realisingthisrighttoinformationisoftenadrawn-outprocess,oftenenforcedonlythroughlitigation.

2ThePAIACivilSocietyNetworkissuesanannual“shadowreport”onitsmembers’experiencesinapplyingforinformationunderPAIA–abarometerofpublicandprivatesectorcompliancewithPAIA.Thelast(2013-14)reportrecordedamarginalincreaseinwhatremainsverylowlevelsofcompliance.

Againstthisbackground,itcameasawelcomebreakthroughthatclosetotheendofthisreportingperiod,twosignificantPAIAdisclosureswereobtainedfrompublicbodiesnotoriousfortheirnon-disclosure:thedepartmentofmineralresourcesandtheStateSecurityAgency.

Thetwomattersarediscussedinfurtherdetailbelow.Intotal,wepursued15PAIAmattersoverthereportingperiod,13ofwhichwerenew.

BesidesPAIA,wecontinuedvigorouslytoexercisetheCompaniesActprovisionsforpublicaccesstocompanyshareregisters.Transparencyintheownershipofcompaniesisincreasinglyrecognisedaskeytoanti-corruptionefforts.Duringthereviewperiodwenotonlyexercisedtherightfrequently,butintervenedincrucialmatterbeforetheSupremeCourtofAppealwheretheerosionoftherightitselfisthreatened.Again,seebelow.

Welistsomeofourmorenotableadvocacyengagementsrelevanttothereviewperiod:

InterceptionandtheProtectionofSources:Whenconversationsbetweenjournalistsandtheirsourcesareintercepted,itchillsaccesstoinformationandfreedomofexpression,assourcesbecomeunwillingtotalk.

InApril2015,whenthepresident’sattorneyfiledanansweringaffidavitintheso-called“spytapes”matter,heattachedtranscriptsofinterceptedconversationsbetweenourSamSoleandprosecutorBillyDownerdiscussingaspectsofthearmsdealscandal.

Thisreinforcedourperceptionthatjournalists’conversationsmaybeinterceptedbythestateontheflimsiestofgrounds—andpresenteduswithatangibleopportunitytoworktowardsreform.

InJune,welodgedacomplaintwiththeOfficeoftheInspector-GeneralofIntelligence.Thereisnooutcomeyetasthepositionhasremainedvacantforthebetterpartofayear(see“GuardingtheGuardians”below).

WealsolodgedPAIArequestswiththedepartmentofjusticeandStateSecurityAgency(SSA)forrecordsabouttheinterceptionofSam’scommunications.

TheSSAratherunexpectedlymadeapartialdisclosureinJanuary2016,appearingtoconfirmthatSamwasspecificallytargetedoveranextendedperiod.Shockingasitmaybe,thedisclosurewasvaluableasitcontainedthetacitadmissionthattargetedpersonsareentitledtoretrospectiveconfirmationtheircommunicationswereintercepted.

OurattorneysarenowpreparinganapproachtotheHighCourttochallengetheconstitutionalityofaspectsoftheRegulationofInterceptionofCommunicationsAct.

Ourdesiredreformsmayinclude:Thatthetargetsofinterceptionbeinformedretrospectively;thatapublicadvocaterepresentsthepublicinterestinanadversarialprocesswhenthesecurityagenciesbringin-camerainterceptionapplicationsbeforethe“designated”judge;thattherebeaprotocolcontainingspecialprotectionsforpersons(suchasjournalists)whohavesourceprotectionduties;thatlimitationsregardingtheuseandretentionofinterceptedinformationareintroduced;andthatproperrestrictionsonthereleaseofmetadatabeintroduced.

TheRight2KnowCampaign(R2K)andanewsecrecythreat:R2K,whichamaBhunganehelpedfound,kickedoffin2010withunprecedentedmobilisationagainsttheProtectionofStateInformationBill,knownasthe“SecrecyBill”.

TheBill,somewhatamelioratedbutstillathreattothemediaandcivilsociety,wasfinallypassedbyParliamentin2013.Ithaslanguishedunsignedonthepresident’sdesksincethen.R2Khasmaturedtocampaignwidelynotonlyonsecrecy,butalsowhistleblowerprotection,mediafreedomanddiversity,accesstoinformationandtherighttoprotest.

WecontinueservingonR2K’sleadership,includingitsnationalworkingandsecrecygroups.

ThejusticedepartmentreleasedadraftCybercrimesandCybersecurityBillinAugust2015.Whileitaimedtoplaycatch-upwithfastevolvingdevelopmentsinthedigitalspace,itreplicatedprovisionsonespionageandterrorismfromtheSecrecyBill—butisevenmoredraconian,sincenoneofthelatter’shard-wonsafeguards

areincluded.Italsoplacedsignificantcontrolregardingthepolicingoftheinternetinthehandsofthecountry’sintelligenceagencies.

Ifenactedinthisform,journalists,activistsandmembersofthepublicwouldbeexposedtolengthyprisontermsfordoingnomorethanwhattheircounterpartsdidworldwideinrelationto,forexample,theEdwardSnowdenleaks.

We,R2Kandothercivilsocietypartnersmadesubmissionstothejusticedepartmentinlate2015.Followingthis,R2KreceivedaninvitefromthedeputyjusticeministertodiscusstheBill.AnR2Kdelegation,includingourKaraboRajuili,methimandthedepartment’sprimarydrafterinFebruary2016.Thedepartmenthasstartedacomprehensiveredrafttotakecognisanceofthesubmissions,andistakingadvicefromanexpertgroupwhichincludesanR2Knominee.

WeshallmonitortheBill’slegislativepassageandinterveneagainshouldtheneedarise.

MiningRightsTransparency:Arangeofcivilsocietyorganisationshavebeenpushingforgreatertransparencyregardingtheallocationofminingrightsbythedepartmentofmineralresources,andthelabour,socialandenvironmentalobligationsimposedonrightsholders.Unlikemanycountries(andatoddswithbestpracticeestablishedthroughi.a.theExtractiveIndustriesTransparencyInitiative),SouthAfricadoesnotpublishdatabasesofmineralrightsallocations,contractsetc.

AmaBhunganeandothercivilsocietyactorsenvisagethecreationofadatabaseordatabasesavailabletojournalists,activistsandthepublictohelpenforcetransparencyandaccountabilityw.r.t.mineralrights.However,theeffortsoforganisationssuchastheCentreforEnvironmentalRightstodislodgeinformationfromthedepartment,usingPAIA,hasbeenmetwithshockinglypoorresults.3

AmaBhunganesetitselfthetaskofobtainingtheentire“firstlayer”ofinformationrequiredforadatabase—thatofmineralrightsallocationsnationwide.Afterwarningsthatthedepartmentwascertaintorefusesuchanapplicationonthegroundsof“unreasonablediversionofresources”,wecompromisedinonerespect;wedecidedtoapplymineralbymineral.

InFebruary2015,welodgedaPAIAapplicationforallcoalminingrightsallocations(i.e.whohaswhatrightwhere)nationally.Afteraninitialrefusalandourinternalappealduringthereviewperiod,theministeraccededinJanuary2016.

Thebulkoftheinformationisstilltobehandedover.Anextstepmaybetorequestthesameinformationforotherminerals,soastoobtaintheentirefirstlayerofinformationand,incollaborationwithothercivilsocietyorganisations,worktowardsbuildingadatabaseavailabletojournalists,activistsandthepublic).

CorporateTransparency:Transparencyintheownershipofcompaniesisincreasinglyrecognisedaskeytoanti-corruptionefforts.AmaBhunganecontributedtoSouthAfrica’scorporatetransparencyregimebyensuring,throughrepresentationstogovernmentandParliament,thatpublicaccesstoshareregisterswaspreservedinthenewCompaniesAct,2008asamendedin2010.

Wehavevigorouslyexercisedthisrightsoastodevelopprecedentandexpertise,andpursueinvestigations.Whencompaniesrefuse,wetypicallyavailourselvesoftheCompaniesandIntellectualPropertyCommission(CIPC)complaintsmechanism,whichisgenerallyeffective.Inthereportingperiod,44newrequestsweresubmitted.

Wehavealsodefendedtherightincourt,wherebeforethereviewperiodwecompelledarecalcitrantcompanytodiscloseitsownershipviaajudgmentthatconfirmedtheunqualifiednatureoftherighttoaccessshareregisters.

However,inthemorerecentmatterofJuliusPeterCobbettvNovaPropertyGroupHoldings,theHighCourttookacontradictoryviewinaninterlocutoryjudgment,opiningthattherightmaybequalifiedafteralland

3TheCentreforEnvironmentalRightsreportedinNovember2015thatthedepartmentofmineralresourceshadreleasedonly12.5%ofrecordsitrequestedintheprecedingyear;thelowestlevelofdisclosureitexperiencefromallpublicentities.

thatcompaniesmayhavelegitimatereasonsnottodisclosetheirshareholders.CobbettisajournalistatMoneyweb,andNovaisacompanyinpossessionofproceedsfromSharemax,anallegedpyramidscheme.

Weregardthecourt’sviewasapotentiallydangerouserosionoftheright.Ifconfirmed,itwillencouragesomecompaniestorefusedisclosingasamatterofcourseand“dare”requesterstosuethem—anexpensiveandtime-consumingremedy.

WejoinedthatlitigationasamicuscuriaebeforetheSupremeCourtofAppeal,toarguethattheintentionofthelegislature(ofwhichwehadpersonalknowledge)wasfortherighttobeunqualified,andthatqualificationwoulderodetheconstitutionalvaluesofaccesstoinformationandfreedomofexpression.Judgmentwasreserved.

ProcurementTransparencyReform:TransparencyandaccountabilityinstateprocurementissorelylackinginSouthAfrica.

InSeptember2015,theInternationalBudgetPartnership(IBP)convenedameetingwithcivilsocietypartners,includingamaBhungane.Theaimwastodiscusswaystoextendbudgettransparency(whereSouthAfricascoresexcellently)toexpendituretransparency(wherewefailmiserably).AmaBhunganeinsertedaspecificfocusonprocurementtransparencyandbeneficialownership,theweakestlink.

Followingthis,theIBPengagedwithTreasury,withtheresultthattheOfficeoftheChiefProcurementOfficeratTreasurycalledfordetailedinputontransparencyprovisionsforaplannedSupplyChainManagementBill.

AmaBhunganeprepareddetailedsubmissions.Oursubmission,whichdrewheavilyonourexperienceasjournalistswhohaveinvestigatedprocurementirregularity,formedasignificantpartofaconsolidatedproposalsubmittedtoTreasurybyIBP.

WewillcontinuetomonitorprogressregardingtheBillandmakenecessaryinterventions

MaharajandtheRighttoPublish:Afterahaulspanningyears,thismatterwasheardintheNorthGautengHighCourtinMarch2016.

ItstartedwithourattemptedNovember2011exposéofhowMacMaharajhadcommittedthecriminaloffenseoflyingunderoathduringaso-called“section28”corruptioninquirywhereMaharajandhiswifehadbeenimplicatedincorruptionduringhistimeastransportminister.

OurarticlewaspublishedlargelyblackedoutafterMaharaj’sattorneyswarned,andoursconfirmed,thatwewouldface15year’simprisonmentforcontraveningtheNationalProsecutingAuthorityActshouldwepublishinformationfromtheinquiry.

Ournextstepwasanattempttogainpermissionfromtheprosecutingauthoritytopublish,aspermittedundertheAct.Thatwasrefused.WefiledaHighCourtreviewinJune2012,butaninterlocutoryinterventionbyMaharaj—inwhichheattemptedtostrikeourknowledgeofthecontentsofthesection28inquiryfromourfoundingaffidavit—occasionedrepeateddelays.

Maharajhassinceretiredaspresidentialspokesman.Weremainconvinced,however,thatthisisanimportantright-to-publishchallengegiventhedraconiansecrecyfeaturecontainedintheActandthechillingeffectitcanhaveonmediafreedom.

Judgmentwasreserved.

GuardingtheGuardians:WithcivilsocietypartnersincludingR2K,wewereengagedthroughouttheperiodwiththeprocesstowardstheappointmentofakeyaccountabilitypostrelevantamongotherthingstoinvestigativejournalism,theInspector-GeneralofIntelligence.

Atfirst,oureffortswereaimedatensuringParliament’ssecretivejointstandingcommitteeonintelligence(JSCI)helditsinterviewsintheopen.Afterinitialinterviewswereheldincamera,theJSCIconcededinJune2015andrestartedtheminpublic.

Theinterviewswere,however,farcicalgiventhatonlylimitedquestionswereallowed,andculminatedinthenominationofCecilBurgess,theformerJSCIchairwhohadsteeredthe“SecrecyBill”throughtheNational

Assembly.Atthispoint,weturnedourcampaigntoopposeBurgess’scandidacyasinappropriategiventherequirementofindependentoversight.

Inahard-wonvictory,mostpartiesrepresentedinParliamentrefusedtobackBurgess’candidacy,withtheresultthattherulingpartycouldnotraisetherequiredtwo-thirdsNationalAssemblymajoritytoconfirmBurgess’sappointment.HiscandidacywaswithdrawninMarch2016andParliamentreadvertisedtheposition.

Weshallmonitortheprocessandintervenewherewecantohelpensureanon-partisanandappropriateappointment.

Accesstodisciplinaryhearings:Aconstantthemeofourreportinghasbeenaboutunduepoliticalinterferenceinindependentinstitutionsofstateandtheeffectthishashadontheirproperfunctioning.Whendisciplinaryactionistakenagainstofficialsforpossiblyfactionalreasons,thereisamediaandpublicinterestinmonitoringthedisciplinaryprocesses.

WemadebidstogainaccesstodisciplinaryhearingsataffectedinstitutionsincludingtheNationalProsecutingAuthority(NPA),SARevenueService(SARS),IndependentPoliceInvestigativeDirectorate(IPID)andthepolicepriority-crimesunit,theHawks.Wewonaccesstotheonesuchmatterthatwasnotsettledbeforethehearingsbegan—thatofIPIDheadRobertMcBride,inMay2015—followinganapplicationbyourattorneys.

Subsequentlywealsowonin-principleaccesstoaCommissionforConciliation,MediationandArbitrationhearing,settingtheprecedentthatsuchhearingsareopenbydefault.

ThematterinvolvesformerSARSspokespersonAdrianLackay,whoresignedinFebruary2015after11yearsofservice.HeapproachedtheCCMAclaimingconstructivedismissalstemmingfromconflictwithnewlyappointedSARSCommissionerTomMoyane.

WeexpectedtheCCMAhearings,atwhichMoyanewastobethemainwitnessagainstLackay,toprovidethefirstopportunityfortheallegationsandcounter-allegationsregardingthedestabilisationofSARStobecanvassedinanopenlegalsetting.

However,reporterswerebarredfromthepreliminaryhearinginSeptember.AmaBhunganeandMedia24,sharinglegalrepresentation,broughtanapplicationforaccess.

Inwhatweregardasagroundbreakingruling,thepresidingofficergrantedin-principleaccessinOctober2015,subjectonlytofurtherspecificdecisionsaboutspecifictestimonyneedingtobeheardincamera.TheCCMAalsoundertooktodeveloprulesandguidelinesonmediaaccesstofuturearbitrationhearings.

Accessto“GuptaLanding”Info:AftertheexposureinApril2013oftheusebytheconnectedGuptafamilyofWaterkloofAirForceBasetolandweddingguests,wesubmittedaPAIArequestforrecordsofallprivatelandingsatthebaseoverthepreceding24months.

Whenthedepartmentofdefencefailedtoresponddespiteourconstantentreatiesoverthecourseofmorethanayear,wefiledaninternalappealtotheMinisterofDefence,inAugust2014.ThisinternalappealwasdismissedinlateNovember2014onthegroundsthatreleasingtheinformationwould“causeprejudicetotheinternationalrelationsoftheRepublic”.

Wefeltthattherefusalcouldnotremainunchallenged,giventhedepartment’scompletedisregardfortheprovisionsofPAIA,includingitstimelimitsandthespeciousclaimthatdisclosinginformationaboute.g.aflightofweddingguestscouldriskdiplomaticrelations.

WefiledaHighCourtapplicationchallengingtherefusalinMay2015.Thedefenceministeranddepartmentareopposing.Thematterisyettobeheard.

WeregardthisasanimportantchallengebothforjournalisticpurposesandtostrengthentheapplicationofPAIA.

RefugeeAmendmentAct:InSeptember2015,thepresidentsignedtheRefugeeAmendmentActintolaw,completingareformprocessinitiatedbyamaBhunganein2010,whenwechallengedtheRefugeeAppealsBoardtoallowmediaaccesstoCzechfugitiveRadovanKrejcir’srefugeestatusappeal.

WemotivatedforandfundedthestartofaHighCourtchallengetotheRefugeesAct,whichdidnotallowpublicormediaaccesstoappealhearings.WethenpassedthebatontoM&GMedia,IndependentNewspapersandMedia24duetoourinabilityatthatearlystageofourbeingtopursueasubstantiallegalcommitment.AfteradisappointingjudgmentattheHighCourt,thethreemediagroupswonaConstitutionalCourtjudgmentin2013orderingtheAct’samendmenttoallowmediaandpublicaccessincertaincircumstances.

Tocomplywiththeruling,ParliamentinitiatedandprocessedtheAmendmentActduringthereviewperiod.AmaBhunganemadesubmissionsonthewordingalongwithsixothercivilsocietyorganisations.

Thefinalwordingwasnotidealgiventhewidediscretionstillgiventotheboardwithoutclearpublic-interestguidelines.Nevertheless,weseethelegalreform,whichnowallowsthepossibilityofaccesswherepreviouslytherewasnone,asanimportantvictory.

Criminaldefamation:In2013,amagistrate’scourtfoundSowetanjournalistCecilMotsepeguiltyofcriminaldefamationafterhepublishedarticlesallegingracistconductbyadifferentmagistrate.Thecaseandthesuspendedsentenceattractedwidespreadmediascrutiny.Italsobroughtintosharpreliefthedraconiancommonlawprovisionsthatallowcriminalsanctionforwhatshouldbeacivilmatter.

Theincidentpromptedourthenadvocacycoordinator,VinayakBhardwaj,togetherwithWebberWentzellawyerBenWinkstowriteamuch-discussedopinionarticleonthewrongsofcriminaldefamationgiventheavailabilityofcivilremedies.

ThearticlewasquotedextensivelyinalandmarkrulingoftheZimbabweanConstitutionalCourt,inwhichthecrimeofdefamationwasinpartinvalidatedinthatcountry.

Separatetoourarticle,wejoinedacoalitionoforganisationsassembledbytheFreedomofExpressionInstitutetointerveneasamicicuriaeinanappealbyMotsepe.AdisappointingjudgmentwashandeddownoninDecember2014,withthejudgeclearingMotsepebutupholdingcriminaldefamationasconstitutional.

ItcameasawelcomesurpriseinlateSeptember2015whentherulingparty’slegalresearchgrouprecommendedremovingtheoffencefromSA’scommonlaw.

Wearepleasedwithourprogressacrossthewidearrayofadvocacymattersdescribed,andmanyotherstoo.Weshallmaintainoureffortstoexerciseinformationrights,seektheirenforcementwherecalledforandsetprecedent.

LOOKINGFORWARD

Afreemedia—likeastrongindependentjudiciary—isoneofthestrongestpillarsprotectingourdemocracy.

Yet,SouthAfricahasanaccountabilitydeficit,withadominantpartyandavarietyofeffortstoundermineandcaptureinstitutionsofgovernancefornarrowends.

Thesecircumstances,combinedwiththeglobalsustainabilitycrisisfacingthemedia,makeamaBhungane’sworkmorevitalthatever.Weshallpersistinshiningalightwherethepowerfulwouldhavenone.

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StefaansBrümmerandSamSole,managingpartners

May2016