Accountability Register

What has actually been found, by whom, and on what evidence

Every claim on this page is typed and sourced. A conviction is marked as a conviction. A charge is marked as untried. A commission recommending that somebody be investigated is marked as a recommendation, not a finding. Criticism is attributed to whoever made it. Where sources disagree, the page says so instead of choosing. Where someone has denied something, their denial is on the page.

This page replaces one we withdrew

Until 6 October 2026 this URL carried a “Hall of Shame” profiling 40 people. We checked all 40 entries against their sources and most of them did not hold up, so we took the page down the same day.

What was wrong was not a handful of dates. One entry stated that a man had been charged with offering the sitting President a R600-million bribe. No such charge existed. A minister was described as having none of the credentials her office required; she is an admitted attorney of the High Court. Two quotations were attributed to judicial commissions that never said them. One man was written about as though he were living, two years after his death. Allegations whose charges had been withdrawn, or never brought, were published as established fact.

The recurring cause was a single device: asserting that an official lacked relevant qualifications. It produced false statements about fourteen named people, always in the same direction. The rebuilt model has no field for a person’s qualifications at all, and the build now rejects that phrasing outright.

The replacement was then wrong in its own way, and we are saying so here rather than quietly fixing it. When this register first went up on 6 October, 82 of its 97 citations had no link behind them, and several of those headlines had been written from memory rather than copied from a published page. Three quotations in the Zuma entry were attributed to the Zondo Commission when two came from newspapers and the third misquoted the report. One entry said no appeal court had confirmed John Block’s conviction when both the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court had. Every citation on this page now carries a followable link, and the site will not build without one.

These were our errors, and the full list is public: the audit findings, entry by entry.

10 of 40 entries have been rebuilt. These ten were done first because their records are the most firmly established: each turns on a conviction, a court judgment, a formal charge, or a commission finding that can be quoted directly. The remaining 30 stay down until every claim in them has been checked the same way. We would rather publish ten entries that hold than forty that do not.

Jacob Zuma

President of South Africa, 2009 – 2018
President, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, 2023 – present

Convicted of contempt of court in 2021 and serving no further time after a presidential remission; awaiting trial on 16 counts arising from the 1999 arms deal.

Record6 October 2026
He was admitted to hospital in Pietermaritzburg on 5–6 October 2026 after falling ill following a public appearance in Msinga. Accounts conflict: the MK Party said he was undergoing routine check-ups and remained fit to campaign, while President Ramaphosa said he had been unwell and was receiving treatment. The nature of his illness has not been disclosed.
Sources: TimesLIVE, Conflicting reports swirl over Zuma hospital stay, 7 October 2026 · EWN, Zuma fit and continuing campaign trail despite reports of sudden illness, says MK Party, 7 October 2026 · Africanews, Zuma's hospitalisation raises questions over MK Party election campaign, 9 October 2026
Charged — untried14 May 2026KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg
He faces 16 counts — 12 of fraud, two of corruption, one of racketeering and one of money laundering — arising from 783 alleged payments between him and Schabir Shaik. Thales is a co-accused. On 14 May 2026 Judge Nkosinathi Chili ruled the trial must proceed, finding that “a factual finding has been made several times … that Mr Zuma is implementing Stalingrad delay tactics to the commencement of the trial.” The court set the trial to begin on 1 February 2027. Zuma said he would appeal, his foundation calling the judgment “wrong in law and fact”, but neither he nor Thales applied for leave to appeal, and in October 2026 the NPA said the trial date was final. No evidence has been led and nothing has been proven. Much secondary reporting renders the 783 payments as “783 counts”; that is wrong.
Sources: Mail & Guardian, Zuma and Thales ordered to stop 'Stalingrad tactics' in arms deal trial, 14 May 2026 · Daily Maverick, Judge condemns Zuma's 'Stalingrad defence' as arms deal trial date is finally set, 14 May 2026 · News24, Jacob Zuma's arms deal trial to proceed as court rules against 'Stalingrad' delays, 14 May 2026 · Jacaranda FM, Zuma and Thales will face trial in 2027 after failing to appeal court ruling, 1 October 2026 · EWN, Zuma pushing ahead with efforts to stop arms deal trial from proceeding, 15 May 2026 · Daily Maverick, NPA reinstates charges against former president Jacob Zuma, 16 March 2018
Record20 May 2024
The Constitutional Court declared that his 15-month sentence meant he “is accordingly not eligible to be a member of, and not qualified to stand for election to, the National Assembly” — a disqualification running until five years have elapsed since the completion of his sentence. The Court also dismissed his bid to have five of its judges recused for bias. His name was removed from the MK Party's candidate list, though his face remained on the ballot. MK took 14.58% of the national vote and 58 of 400 seats in 2024.
Sources: Daily Maverick, Jacob Zuma not eligible to stand for parliament, ConCourt rules, 20 May 2024 · TimesLIVE, IN FULL | ConCourt rules Jacob Zuma is not eligible to be an MP, 20 May 2024 · Al Jazeera, South African court rules Zuma 'not eligible' to run for parliament, 20 May 2024
Record11 August 2023
He was granted medical parole on 5 September 2021 by Correctional Services Commissioner Arthur Fraser, against the advice of the Medical Parole Advisory Board, after roughly two months. The Gauteng High Court set that decision aside in December 2021; the Supreme Court of Appeal declared the parole unlawful on 21 November 2022; and the Constitutional Court dismissed the department's bid to appeal in July 2023. He was returned to Estcourt on the morning of 11 August 2023 and released about an hour later, after President Ramaphosa granted a special remission covering roughly 9,400 inmates. About 13 months of the sentence remained. He has served no further time.
Sources: News24 / City Press, Zuma sent back to jail, and released after two hours, 11 August 2023 · Mail & Guardian, Ramaphosa remits Zuma's prison sentence, 11 August 2023 · Daily Maverick, No prison time for Jacob Zuma after remission decision, 11 August 2023 · Supreme Court of Appeal (via SAFLII), National Commissioner of Correctional Services and Another v Democratic Alliance and Others (33/2022) [2022] ZASCA 159, 21 November 2022
Commission finding29 April 2022Zondo Commission, Part 4
On the 2015 firing of finance minister Nhlanhla Nene, the commission found: “Mr Nene's dismissal is another example that shows that Mr Zuma would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do.” The Mail & Guardian's own characterisation of that chapter — that the firing “confirmed that Jacob Zuma was a puppet of the Gupta brothers, ready to do whatever they required” — is the newspaper's wording, not the commission's. An earlier version of this entry presented it as a direct finding; that was wrong and is corrected here.
Sources: Mail & Guardian, Zuma was the Guptas' puppet, Zondo finds, 29 April 2022 · Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, Final Reports, 22 June 2022
Commission recommendation — not a finding1 February 2022Zondo Commission, Part 2 (Transnet)
The commission recommended that law enforcement conduct further investigation with a view to possible prosecution on charges including corruption, in connection with the reinstatement of Siyabonga Gama at Transnet. Its wording was that agencies should “conduct such further investigations as may be necessary, with a view to the possible prosecution on a charge of corruption”. That is a recommendation to investigate, not a finding of guilt, and no prosecution of Zuma on the Transnet matter has followed. The commission examined SAA, SARS, Transnet, Denel, Bosasa, Eskom, the National Treasury, EOH, the City of Johannesburg, Alexkor, the Free State, the State Security Agency, the SABC and PRASA.
Sources: News24, State capture report: Zuma should be investigated for Transnet corruption, 2 February 2022 · Mail & Guardian, Zondo report recommends Jacob Zuma be investigated for Transnet corruption, 2 February 2022 · Accountability Tracker, Transnet, 2024
Commission finding4 January 2022Zondo Commission, Part 1 (SARS)
On SARS, the commission found: “The only feasible conclusion is that the organisation was deliberately captured and President Zuma and Mr Moyane played critical roles in the capture of Sars and dismantling it in the way it was done during Mr Moyane's term as commissioner.”
Sources: TimesLIVE, Zuma and Moyane played 'critical role' in dismantling Sars: Zondo report, 4 January 2022 · Business Day, Zuma, Moyane played 'critical role' in dismantling Sars, Zondo report finds, 4 January 2022 · Mail & Guardian, Zondo: Like Moyane, Zuma was central in Sars capture, 5 January 2022
Convicted29 June 2021Constitutional Court
Convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months, unsuspended, for defying an order to appear before the Zondo Commission. The majority was written by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Khampepe, with Jafta and Theron JJ dissenting. He was admitted to Estcourt Correctional Centre on the night of 7–8 July 2021.
Source: Constitutional Court of South Africa (via SAFLII), Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture … v Zuma and Others (CCT 52/21) [2021] ZACC 18, 29 June 2021
Civil court13 April 2021Supreme Court of Appeal
The court dismissed his appeal against a High Court ruling that state funding of his criminal defence was “unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid”, leaving him liable to refund state legal expenses paid since he was first charged in 2006. It awarded punitive costs for his allegations of judicial bias, holding: “There is nothing on the record to sustain the inference that the presiding judges in this matter … were biased or that they were not open-minded, impartial or fair.”
Sources disagree: Amounts reported at the time ranged from about R15 million to R16 million. The quantified figure of R28.9 million comes from a later order in October 2025 and should not be read back into this judgment.
Sources: Supreme Court of Appeal (via SAFLII), Zuma v Democratic Alliance and Another (1028/2019) [2021] ZASCA 39, 13 April 2021 · News24, JUST IN | Jacob Zuma loses state legal fees appeal bid, must pay back millions, 13 April 2021 · Daily Maverick, Zuma to pay back the money: Court's legal costs order essential 'to remedy the abuse of public resources', 13 April 2021
Civil court31 March 2016Constitutional Court
On the Nkandla upgrades, the Court declared his failure to comply with the Public Protector's remedial action inconsistent with section 83(b) of the Constitution, read with sections 181(3) and 182(1)(c) — section 83(b) being the President's duty to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution. The defect was the non-compliance, not the spending. National Treasury determined he personally owed R7,814,155, being 87.94% of the cost of five non-security features, which he repaid in September 2016.
Amount: R215 million spent by 2014, about R246 million including an unimplemented phase estimated at R31 million; R7,814,155 repaid
Sources disagree: Reported totals for the Nkandla project vary: R215 million actually spent by the close of the Public Protector's investigation, about R246 million including an unimplemented third phase, and “more than R250 million” as claimed by the DA.
Sources: News24, FULL TEXT: Constitutional Court rules on Nkandla, Public Protector, 31 March 2016 · Daily Dispatch, IN FULL: The order made by the Constitutional Court on Nkandla, 31 March 2016 · Daily Maverick, Nkandla, The Finale: Treasury sets 'reasonable' R7.8m for Zuma to pay back, 28 June 2016 · Mail & Guardian, Zuma pays back the money, but where did he get the R7.8-million?, 12 September 2016 · IOL, High cost of Nkandla exceeds R246m, 7 February 2016

Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta

Owners, Sahara Computers, Oakbay Investments and associated companies
Resident in South Africa from 1993

Sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom, and found by the Zondo Commission to have been the private beneficiaries at the centre of state capture. None has been convicted.

Charges withdrawn7 August 2024Free State High Court
The R280-million Estina/Vrede dairy prosecution was struck off the roll on 7 August 2024 under section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act, on the defence's application, for unreasonable delay — the asserted cause being its inability to access electronic versions of the Gupta-leaks emails. The NPA's answer on record was that hard copies had been disclosed in early 2023 and electronic versions on 15 June 2023. Accused included former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane, Nazeem Howa, Ashu Chawla, Ronica Ragavan, Ugeshni Govender, Estina director Kamal Vasram and nephew Varun Gupta. The NPA said it remained “undeterred”. Separately, the Asset Forfeiture Unit obtained a preservation order in January 2018 over an amount not exceeding R220,202,652 as proceeds of crime, and the farm Krynaauws Lust 275 was placed under curatorship.
Amount: R280 million; preservation order over R220,202,652
Sources: News24, Estina dairy farm fraud: NPA says it remains 'undeterred' after case struck off court roll, 8 August 2024 · TimesLIVE, ID set to reinstate R280m Estina case which was struck off the roll, 7 August 2024 · Institute for Security Studies — Accountability Tracker, Vrede Dairy Farm, 6 March 2026 · PoliticsWeb, Preservation order granted to AFU in Vrede dairy scandal - SAFTU, 22 January 2018
This item is favourable to the subject.
Record13 February 2023
A Dubai court refused South Africa's extradition request on 13 February 2023, in respect of Atul and Rajesh Gupta — Ajay was not part of that request. The court's stated reasons were that the arrest warrant on the fraud and corruption counts had been cancelled, and that the UAE itself had jurisdiction over the money-laundering counts. South Africa was only informed by note verbale on the evening of 6 April 2023; Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the government “learnt with shock and dismay” of it. The two brothers were released and left the UAE. In a parliamentary reply in September 2026 Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said they remain subject to Interpol red notices and are believed to be in India.
Sources: Department of Justice and Correctional Services, Minister provides an update on the extradition request of the Gupta Fugitives, 7 April 2023 · Al Jazeera, UAE court dismisses S Africa request to extradite Gupta brothers, 7 April 2023 · Daily Maverick, SA's Gupta extradition flop now dulls UAE's shiny approach to catching global fugitives, 30 September 2026
Commission recommendation — not a finding29 April 2022Zondo Commission, Part 4
The commission recommended that the NPA consider charging Rajesh “Tony” Gupta with bribery or corruption over the offer of R600 million to then-deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in exchange for taking the finance ministry and acting as the family's inside man. This arose from the Jonas matter, not from the Eskom coal transactions. No prosecution has been reported.
Amount: R600 million alleged offer
Sources: News24, Rajesh Gupta must be charged for offering bribe that Mcebisi Jonas refused - state capture report, 29 April 2022 · TimesLIVE, Institute criminal charges against Tony Gupta — Zondo report, 29 April 2022 · Daily Maverick, The people and businesses the State Capture commission recommends for prosecution, 3 May 2022
Commission finding29 April 2022Zondo Commission, Part 4
On the Eskom coal deals, the commission found that “the context, timing and urgency of these deals demonstrate the R659 million payment and the R1.68 billion guarantee were not made for the purpose of furthering the interests of Eskom”, and that “there could not have been any commercial benefit to Eskom. If anything, the submission secured commercial benefit only for Tegeta.” The R659-million prepayment of 13 April 2016 closed the funding gap on Tegeta's R2.15-billion acquisition of Optimum Coal Mine from Glencore. The earlier R1.68 billion was approved by the Eskom board in December 2015 as a pre-payment and then converted into a guarantee benefiting Tegeta; Eskom never paid it across. The commission recommended prosecution of Koko, Mboweni, Nteta and Roux over the R659 million, and did not recommend charging Rajesh Gupta in respect of that transaction.
Amount: R659 million prepayment; R1.68 billion guarantee; R2.15 billion acquisition
Sources: The Citizen, R659m Eskom scam: Tegeta's Gupta conspicuously left out of Zondo's recommended prosecution, 29 April 2022 · Bizcommunity, Eskom pre-payments to Tegeta enabled by willing agents, 13 May 2022 · Daily Maverick, How Eskom board whisked through a R1.68bn agreement that benefited the Guptas, 8 December 2020 · Mail & Guardian, Zondo commission: Eskom 'fooled the system' to pay the Guptas, 5 March 2019
Record5 July 2021
Interpol issued red notices on 5 July 2021 for Atul Gupta and his wife Chetali, Rajesh Gupta and his wife Arti, and Ankit Jain, Ravindra Nath, Ramesh Bhat and Jagdish Parekh — eight people in all — over the R24.9-million Nulane feasibility-study matter linked to the Vrede dairy project. Ajay Gupta's position is different and this entry previously described it wrongly. He was declared a fugitive from justice in February 2018 after failing to hand himself to the Hawks. In February 2019 the Hawks cancelled his arrest warrant — an “inevitable legal consequence”, in their words, of the NPA's provisional withdrawal the previous month of charges against Duduzane Zuma in the Mcebisi Jonas bribery matter. Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said expressly that this was not a vindication of Ajay Gupta as a suspect and that state capture investigations continued. An earlier version of this entry said the NPA dropped all charges against him and withdrew the designation; that was wrong on both counts.
Sources: Daily Maverick, Wanted: NPA secures Red Notices for fugitive Guptas, 5 July 2021 · TimesLIVE, Interpol red notice issued against Gupta brothers, wives to face charges in SA, 5 July 2021 · Polity, Ajay Gupta no longer a fugitive after arrest warrant cancelled, 15 February 2019 · IOL, #GuptaCourt: NPA declares Ajay Gupta a 'fugitive from justice', 15 February 2018
Record24 May 2021
Forensic researcher Paul Holden testified on 24 May 2021 that organs of state had disbursed R49,157,323,233.68 in expenditure tainted by state capture involving the Gupta enterprises — Transnet accounting for R40.08 billion of it, Eskom R6.97 billion and the Free State government R441 million. Most of that money went to contractors, not to Gupta entities. Of it, R15,967,208,084.87 was paid directly or indirectly to Gupta entities, across three categories: payments to Gupta companies as state contractors, payments by state contractors to first-level laundering entities, and kickbacks paid offshore. Holden called the R16 billion deliberately conservative. Contractors in the R49-billion tabulation include McKinsey (over R1.8 billion), Neotel (R5.6 billion from Transnet), Regiments Capital (R1.3 billion) and Trillian Capital (R935.3 million). An earlier version of this entry said the R49 billion “went to Gupta-linked entities” and listed KPMG and PwC among the recipients; neither is supported.
Amount: R49,157,323,233.68 disbursed; R15,967,208,084.87 to Gupta entities
Sources disagree: Holden later revised the total upward, with reporting putting state spending on Gupta-enterprise tainted contracts above R57 billion. The R49 billion figure is his May 2021 testimony.
Sources: News24, Over R49bn spent on contracts 'tainted by state capture', Zondo Commission hears, 24 May 2021 · News24, Gupta enterprise scored about R16bn from state capture-related contracts, Zondo Commission hears, 24 May 2021 · Mail & Guardian, State paid R49bn to Gupta entities in dodgy deals, researcher testifies, 24 May 2021 · Corruption Watch, Zondo commission – R50bn state capture bonanza for the Guptas, 24 May 2021
Regulator10 October 2019US Department of the Treasury (OFAC) and the UK government
The United States designated Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta and associate Salim Essa on 10 October 2019 under Executive Order 13818, the Global Magnitsky regime. The Treasury Under Secretary's accompanying statement said the family “leveraged its political connections to engage in widespread corruption and bribery.” The United Kingdom sanctioned the brothers and Essa on 26 April 2021 under its then-new Global Anti-Corruption regime, among 22 individuals across four regions.
Sources: Bloomberg, U.S. Sanctions Guptas, Essa Over Corruption in South Africa, 10 October 2019 · OCCRP, US Treasury Sanctions Gupta Brothers and Associate, 1 October 2019 · GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), UK sanctions 22 individuals involved in serious international corruption, 26 April 2021 · News24, JUST IN | UK imposes sanctions against Guptas, Salim Essa as part of global anti-corruption regime, 26 April 2021

Tom Moyane

Commissioner, South African Revenue Service, September 2014 – November 2018
National Commissioner, Correctional Services, May 2010 – September 2013

Not criminally charged

Dismissed as SARS Commissioner on the recommendation of a judicial commission that found reckless mismanagement. He has not been criminally charged over SARS.

Record23 May 2026
As at May 2026 the NPA had brought in private digital-forensics firms to strengthen the SARS investigation — described by the Sunday Times, in its own words rather than the NPA's, as a “cold case investigation.” Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said “a number of these components are in the final stages of investigation” and that the NPA “will take an enrolment decision once the outstanding investigative steps have been completed and the evidence has been assessed.” No charges have been enrolled against him.
Source: Sunday Times, NPA calls in private-sector expertise in Sars capture probe, 23 May 2026
Regulator29 September 2022National Treasury
National Treasury banned Bain & Company from public-sector contracts for ten years, the restriction running from 5 September 2022 to 4 September 2032. Bain has since closed its South African business.
Sources: News24, Treasury bans Bain & Co. from public sector contracts for a decade, 29 September 2022 · Engineering News, Treasury bans Bain & Co. from public sector contracts for a decade, 29 September 2022
Commission recommendation — not a finding4 January 2022Zondo Commission
The commission's Part 1 report recommended he be charged with perjury for giving Parliament false evidence about his involvement in appointing New Integrated Credit Solutions, owned by his associate Patrick Monyeki, to do SARS debt-collection work. Zondo echoed Nugent, finding the state of affairs was brought about by “at least” reckless mismanagement and that Moyane was “seizing control of SARS as if it was his to have.” No prosecution has followed. This site has not found a recommendation that he be charged with corruption.
Sources: The Citizen, Zondo report: Tom Moyane's clearcut role in Sars' state capture, 6 January 2022 · TimesLIVE, Zuma and Moyane played 'critical role' in dismantling Sars: Zondo report, 4 January 2022 · Daily Maverick, Five things to know about the State Capture Commission's findings and recommendations on SARS, 4 January 2022
Civil court12 February 2019Constitutional Court and Gauteng High Court
His court challenges failed. In November 2018 the Constitutional Court dismissed his challenge to the establishment of the Nugent Commission on jurisdictional grounds, holding that grounds for its exclusive jurisdiction had not been established and refusing direct access because other avenues were open. In February 2019 it dismissed his application for leave to appeal against his dismissal, holding the application “bears no reasonable prospects of success”, and made no costs order.
Sources disagree: Neither Constitutional Court outcome produced a reported judgment — both were disposed of by order, so no ZACC citation exists and none is given. The only reported judgment in the saga is the High Court one.
Sources: TimesLIVE, Constitutional Court dismisses application by Tom Moyane, 26 November 2018 · IOL, Tom Moyane loses ConCourt bid to appeal dismissal, 12 February 2019 · SAFLII, Moyane v Ramaphosa and Others (82287/2018) [2018] ZAGPPHC 835, 11 December 2018
Record1 November 2018
President Ramaphosa terminated his appointment on 1 November 2018, writing that the report “paints a deeply concerning picture of the current state of SARS and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure”, and that of “further, and in many ways greater, concern is your refusal to meaningfully participate in the SARS Commission.”
Source: The Presidency, President Cyril Ramaphosa terminates appointment of Mr Tom Moyane as Commissioner of South African Revenue Service, 1 November 2018
Commission finding27 September 2018Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS
Judge Robert Nugent found the condition of SARS was brought about by “at least reckless mismanagement of SARS under the tenure of Mr Moyane”, and that “SARS reeks of intrigue, fear, distrust and suspicion.” He recorded that Moyane had barely arrived “with no experience of revenue collection.” The final report described what occurred as “a premeditated offensive against Sars, strategised by the local office of Bain & Company Inc … for Mr Moyane to seize SARS” — Bain's interest being to make money, Moyane's to take control.
Sources: Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, Interim Report, paragraphs [2], [3] and [40], 27 September 2018 · Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, Final Report, Chapter 3: The Seizing of SARS, paragraph [1], 11 December 2018 · BusinessLIVE, Read judge Robert Nugent's full interim report of the inquiry into Sars, 17 October 2018
Record15 September 2017
He commissioned KPMG in December 2014 to investigate the “rogue unit” allegations, at “an ultimate cost to the taxpayer of about R24 million (the money has since been returned to SARS).” KPMG withdrew the conclusions and recommendations of that report on 15 September 2017, apologised, and repaid its fee. SARS under Moyane publicly rejected the withdrawal, calling KPMG's conduct “aberrant and unethical.” Nugent recorded that the unit did exist — from about 2008 as Special Operations, later the National Research Group, then the High Risk Intelligence Unit, with six members — and found “no reason why the establishment and existence of the unit was indeed unlawful”, noting he was supported in that by an opinion given to Moyane by leading senior counsel in late 2015. SARS later issued a public apology to the employees affected and settled with thirteen of them through an advisory committee chaired by Professor Thuli Madonsela.
Amount: about R24 million, since returned
Sources: Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, Interim Report, paragraphs [35], [36] and [44], 27 September 2018 · SARS, 18 September 2017 – SARS responds to KPMG, 18 September 2017 · SARS, SARS' public apology to employees adversely affected by its action, 10 November 2022
Commission finding1 December 2014Nugent Commission
He appointed Bain & Company in December 2014 to review the SARS operating model, having had Bain advising him beforehand, producing reports on “transforming and taking charge of SARS.” Nugent found Bain “got its foot in the door by foregoing R2.38 million of its ordinary rates in competitive bidding, only to secure phase 2 at its ordinary rates less 12% without competitive bidding, which earned it a further R164 million for phase 2.” Bain repaid just short of R217 million including interest. Nugent recommended the NPA consider prosecution, finding the conduct “could constitute fraud.”
Amount: R164 million for phase 2 alone; just short of R217 million repaid with interest
Source: Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, Final Report, paragraphs [67], [68], [75] and [76]; Interim Report paragraphs [45] and [46], 11 December 2018
Commission finding1 October 2014Nugent Commission
In October 2014 he ordered the disbandment of the High Risk Investigation Unit and the termination of surveillance of those it was investigating. Nugent: “No new capacity was created to continue its functions,” and a material and ongoing loss of tobacco-related tax revenue could be inferred “for want of investigation.” The commission also found the Large Business Centre had been “eviscerated to the detriment of revenue collection.”
Source: Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, Interim Report, paragraphs [2] and [43], 27 September 2018
Record10 September 2013
His departure from Correctional Services in September 2013 was a mandatory retirement on reaching 60, not a resignation. He said publicly that he was surprised by it and was taking legal advice.
Sources: SAnews, Correctional Services appoints new commissioner, 18 May 2010 · TimesLIVE, Correctional services chief Moyane reaches retirement age, 10 September 2013

Brian Molefe

Group Chief Executive, Transnet, 2011 – 2015
Chief Executive, Eskom, 2015 – January 2017
Member of Parliament, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, August 2024 – February 2026
Treasurer-General, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, from January 2026

Awaiting trial on fraud and corruption charges over Transnet locomotive procurement. A court set aside the pension arrangement Eskom made for him, and Eskom recovered R30 million.

Record26 July 2026
What he personally owes is not concluded. The fund initially sought R10,327,074.53; he argues it should be reduced by about R2 million for offset Transnet contributions. A full bench ruled in July 2025 that oral evidence must be heard on the amount, the Supreme Court of Appeal refused the fund's appeal, and the matter was before the Constitutional Court as at July 2026. No hearing has been set.
Sources disagree: Figures across the litigation range from about R4 million to R10.37 million. The 4 July 2022 order itself was for R7,981,727.94 plus R2,003,812.70.
Source: Daily Maverick, Pay back the money — Brian Molefe's multimillion-rand pension battle returns to ConCourt, 26 July 2026
Charged — untried29 August 2022Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, then Gauteng High Court
Arrested 29 August 2022 over Transnet locomotive procurement, with Anoj Singh and Regiments Capital directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonyha. He and Singh faced Public Finance Management Act contraventions and fraud; Pillay and Nyhonyha faced fraud, corruption and money laundering. All four were granted R50,000 bail that day. Malusi Gigaba joined the matter as a fifth accused in November 2025. The case was transferred to the High Court on 30 January 2026 and postponed on 10 July 2026 to 23 October 2026; an NPA spokesperson said only that the state hoped to be ready “by March”. No plea has been entered and there is no conviction.
Sources disagree: The underlying amount is reported as R398.4 million at the time of the 2022 arrest and as R405 million in later coverage of the same matter. News24 separately headlined the 2022 arrest itself as an “R93m locomotive corruption case”, a figure other reporting attaches to a later 2025 matter.
Sources: SAnews, Arrests of allegedly corrupt former Transnet execs a 'milestone', 29 August 2022 · Sowetan, Former Transnet bosses Molefe, Singh and two co-accused granted bail of R50k each, 29 August 2022 · National Prosecuting Authority, Corruption case against Former Minister of Public Enterprises and co-accused heads to the High Court, 30 January 2026 · The Citizen, More delays in Malusi Gigaba's Transnet corruption case as state eyes 2027 trial start, 10 July 2026
Commission recommendation — not a finding29 April 2022Zondo Commission
The commission recommended the NPA consider prosecuting him, finding that “Singh, Molefe and Koko were all central to the origin and furtherance of a scheme at Eskom, designed to exploit Eskom and benefit Trillian” — the McKinsey–Regiments–Trillian contracts, about R1.6 billion — and separately recommending prosecution of Molefe, Singh and Gama over the Transnet locomotive deal, including an alleged R925-million kickback to a company linked to Salim Essa.
Amount: about R1.6 billion (Trillian); R925 million kickback alleged
Sources: TimesLIVE, Charge ex-Eskom execs and Gupta acolytes Brian Molefe and Matshela Koko, says Zondo, 29 April 2022 · News24, Transnet locomotive procurement train smash: prosecute Molefe, Singh and Gama, Zondo says, 1 February 2022 · Corruption Watch, Zondo commission final report – Zondo names main players in Eskom capture, 1 June 2022
Civil court25 January 2018Gauteng High Court, Pretoria (full court, 25 January 2018)
Eskom paid about R30.1 million to the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund to buy him extra service and waive penalties, inflating his early-retirement benefit. The full court held that the decision “to waive penalties and buy Mr Molefe extra 13 years of service totalling R30,1 million after only 15 months service at the age of 50 stretches incredulity and is unlawful for want of compliance with the rules of the fund”, and that on a fixed-term contract he was “disqualified from participating in the Fund”. The early-retirement decision was reviewed and set aside. A further judgment by Davis J on 4 July 2022 quantified what was owed; his application for leave to appeal that was dismissed on 12 October 2022. Eskom confirmed on 7 September 2022 that it had recovered the R30 million.
Amount: R30,103,915.62
Sources: South African Revenue Service (judgment mirror), Eskom Pension and Provident Fund v Brian Molefe and Others (93895/2019) [2022] ZAGPPHC, 4 July 2022, 4 July 2022 · TimesLIVE, Eskom recovers Brian Molefe's R30m pension fund payment, 7 September 2022 · News24, Eskom can now finally force Brian Molefe to pay back millions to pension fund, 19 October 2022
Record2 June 2017
He resigned from Eskom in November 2016, effective January 2017 — he was not dismissed. The Eskom board reinstated him on 2 May 2017, concluding a reinstatement agreement on 11 May. An inter-ministerial committee chaired by Justice Minister Michael Masutha recommended reversal, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown directed the board accordingly, and the board rescinded the reinstatement on 2 June 2017.
Sources: Parliament of South Africa, Committee Welcomes Decision to Rescind Reappointment of Eskom CEO, 2 June 2017 · News24 (Fin24), Brian Molefe is no longer the CE of Eskom, 2 June 2017 · Engineering News, Molefe removed as Eskom CEO, board might go too, 31 May 2017
Commission finding14 October 2016Public Protector
The State of Capture report recorded that between 2 August 2015 and 22 March 2016 “Mr Molefe has called Mr Ajay Gupta a total of 44 times and Mr Ajay Gupta has called Mr Molefe a total of 14 times”, and that “for the period 5 August 2015 to 17 November 2015, Mr Molefe can be placed in the Saxonwold area on 19 occasions.” Asked to explain, he referred to a shebeen two streets from the Gupta compound, saying: “I will not admit or deny that I've gone to the shebeen. But there is a shebeen there.” He later said he had never claimed to have gone, and disputed the count, saying he was in the area five times. The Sunday Times was ordered to retract its “Saxonwold Shebeen” report about him.
Sources disagree: The widely used figure of 58 calls is the sum of the report's 44 and 14; the report does not state 58.
Sources: Public Protector South Africa, “State of Capture” — A Report of the Public Protector, Report No. 6 of 2016/17, paragraphs 5.96–5.100, 14 October 2016 · News24 (City Press), Madonsela was wrong about my time in Saxonwold: Molefe hits back, 8 November 2017 · News24, Sunday Times ordered to retract 'Saxonwold Shebeen' report on Molefe, 1 March 2017

Ace Magashule

Premier of the Free State, 2009 – 2018
Secretary-General of the ANC, 2017 – 2022
President, African Congress for Transformation, from August 2023

Charged in 2020 over a R255-million asbestos contract; the trial is set for January 2027, more than six years after the warrant. He lost his challenge to the ANC's step-aside rule at four levels and was expelled from the party in 2023.

Charged — untried20 August 2026Free State High Court, Bloemfontein
He faces 21 counts of corruption, theft, fraud and money laundering, plus contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, over a R255-million asbestos audit and removal contract awarded in 2014 by the Free State Department of Human Settlements to a joint venture of Blackhead Consulting (Edwin Sodi) and Diamond Hill Trading 71 (the late Igo Mpambani). A warrant was issued on 10 November 2020; he appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on 13 November 2020 and was granted bail. There are now 18 accused, facing more than 70 counts between them. On 20 August 2026 Judge Phillip Loubser postponed the matter to 18 January 2027 — Magashule had asked for April. No accused in this matter has been convicted, no evidence has been led, and the count of 21 is the 2020 charge-sheet position.
Amount: R255 million contract; about R230 million paid out, of which roughly R21 million went to audit work
Sources: Daily Maverick, Bail granted to a defiant Ace Magashule who faces 21 counts of corruption and fraud, 13 November 2020 · Daily Maverick, Arrest warrant issued for ANC SG Ace Magashule over Free State asbestos saga, 10 November 2020 · The Citizen, 'There is a fight coming,' court told as Free State asbestos trial faces further delays, 9 April 2026 · OFM News, 'It's really waste of time': Magashule frustrated as asbestos case stalls, 20 August 2026 · News24, EXCLUSIVE | Man killed in Sandton hit linked to R255m Free State contract, 19 April 2018
Record18 February 2026
His former personal assistant Moroadi Cholota will stand trial alongside him — but the courts twice held that the way she was brought to South Africa was unlawful. In June 2025 the Free State High Court ruled her extradition from the United States unlawful and unconstitutional, finding the State had misled US authorities by portraying her as a fugitive and that only the justice minister, not the NPA, may lawfully request extradition; the court declined jurisdiction and she walked free. On 23 January 2026 the Constitutional Court agreed the extradition was unlawful but held that the defect did not strip the High Court of jurisdiction to try her, and sent the matter back. On 18 February 2026 Judge Loubser dismissed her bid to stop the prosecution and found the court does have jurisdiction.
Sources: EWN, Court rules extradition of Magashule's ex-PA from US unlawful & unconstitutional, 3 June 2025 · eNCA, Court finds Cholota extradition from US was unlawful, 3 June 2025 · eNCA, Free State High Court dismisses Cholota bid to avoid asbestos trial, 18 February 2026 · allAfrica, South Africa: Court Orders Moroadi Cholota to Stand Trial With Magashule in R255m Asbestos Case, 18 February 2026 · OFM News, High Court clears way for trial in R255m Free State asbestos scandal, 18 February 2026
Record12 June 2023
Suspended as ANC Secretary-General by a letter delivered on 5 May 2021, stating he was suspended with effect from 3 May. Expelled from the ANC on 12 June 2023 after the National Disciplinary Committee received no representations within its seven-day window. He founded the African Congress for Transformation, launched in Soweto on 30 August 2023, and leads it. ACT took 18,354 votes, 0.11% of the national ballot in 2024 — no National Assembly seats and one of 30 Free State provincial seats. It did not submit all of its candidate lists in time.
Sources: Daily Maverick, 'Gone guy': The suspension of Ace Magashule is Ramaphosa's biggest reform win to date, 5 May 2021 · Daily Maverick, Ace Magashule needs to find new home after ANC cracks whip and permanently expels him, 12 June 2023 · Mail & Guardian, ANC expels Ace Magashule, 12 June 2023 · TimesLIVE, Ace launches new party ACT, 30 August 2023 · Wikipedia, African Congress for Transformation (2024 election results tabulation), 7 October 2026
Civil court11 August 2022Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg), Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court
He lost his challenge to the ANC's step-aside rule at four levels. A full bench of the Gauteng High Court dismissed it on 9 July 2021, holding the rule consistent with the Constitution; leave to appeal was refused on 13 September 2021 with costs; the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed his application for leave to appeal on 31 January 2022, finding no reasonable prospect of success; and the Constitutional Court refused leave in August 2022.
Sources disagree: Outlets date the Constitutional Court outcome to both 10 and 11 August 2022. Neutral case citations (ZAGPJHC, ZASCA, ZACC numbers) could not be obtained because SAFLII returned HTTP 403 on every attempt, so none is given rather than guessed.
Sources: Polity, Magashule v Ramaphosa and Others, 9 July 2021 · Polity, Another blow for Magashule as his court challenge to ANC suspension is dismissed, 13 September 2021 · Polity, Magashule's fate sealed as Supreme Court dismisses appeal against ANC suspension, 31 January 2022 · Sowetan, ConCourt dismisses Magashule's bid to overturn his ANC suspension, 10 August 2022 · Polity, Ace Magashule loses ConCourt bid to appeal ANC suspension, 11 August 2022
Record5 May 2022
The Special Investigating Unit and Free State housing authorities moved in May 2022 to cancel the asbestos contract and recover about R225 million. This site has not established the outcome of that recovery.
Amount: about R225 million sought
Source: News24, Asbestos scandal: SIU, Free State housing authorities mount legal bid to claw back R225m, 5 May 2022
Commission recommendation — not a finding29 April 2022Zondo Commission
The commission's Part 4 report, released 29 April 2022, examined the Free State asbestos project and recommended the criminal prosecution of Edwin Sodi, Nthimotse Mokhesi and Thabane Zulu — Zulu specifically over R600,000 Sodi paid toward his Range Rover in 2015 — and urged a probe of former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane. It recommended government obtain a legal opinion on recovering the money. The same report dealt with the Free State's housing programme, for which R1.3 billion was allocated against a provincial backlog of 200,000 houses: Zondo found “It was a dismal failure: a debacle”, with R481 million paid in advance to 106 contractors without written agreements or proof of work. The commission made no adverse finding against Magashule personally in that chapter.
Amount: R1.3 billion allocated; R481 million in advance payments
Sources: TimesLIVE, State capture report: Free State's R1bn housing project was 'dismal failure', 29 April 2022 · Mail & Guardian, Zondo fingers Edwin Sodi, Nthimotse Mokhesi and Thabane Zulu in graft in asbestos scandal, 29 April 2022 · Daily Maverick, State Capture report urges probe of Mosebenzi Zwane and Free State officials over 'asbestos debacle' and failed housing project, 29 April 2022 · Corruption Watch, Zondo commission final report – Sham asbestos project meant to siphon state funds, 1 June 2022

Hlaudi Motsoeneng

Chief Operating Officer, South African Broadcasting Corporation, 2011 – 2017

Dismissed from the SABC in 2017, having had his appointment set aside by the High Court as irrational. He was ordered to repay R11.5 million and lost that fight at every level.

Civil court28 May 2024Gauteng High Court, Pretoria; Supreme Court of Appeal; Constitutional Court
In December 2021 the court declared unlawful the SABC board's decision of 19 August 2016 to pay him a success fee for concluding the MultiChoice archives deal, and ordered him to repay R11,508,549.12 with interest from 13 September 2016. Leave to appeal was dismissed with costs on 15 July 2022; he lost again at the Supreme Court of Appeal in May 2024; and the Constitutional Court dismissed his application after that.
Amount: R11,508,549.12
Sources: South African Government (SIU media advisory), Special Investigating Unit welcomes high court decision to dismiss Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appeal to reverse repayment order, 1 July 2022 · SAnews, High Court dismisses Motsoeneng's leave to appeal application, 1 July 2022 · Daily Maverick, Hlaudi Motsoeneng loses SCA bid to keep multimillion-rand success fee, 28 May 2024 · East Coast Radio, ConCourt dismisses Motsoeneng's R11m SABC 'success fee' application, 2024
Record12 June 2017
He was dismissed on 12 June 2017, on the recommendation of disciplinary chair Nazeer Cassim, for bringing the SABC into disrepute — arising from a press briefing he held on 19 April 2017 in contravention of his suspension terms, at which he attacked board member Krish Naidoo. An earlier version of this entry gave the grounds as lying about qualifications and dismissing staff; that was wrong.
Sources: Polity, Motsoeneng has been fired – SABC board, 12 June 2017 · TimesLIVE, Hlaudi is out, 12 June 2017 · IOL, Hlaudi Motsoeneng to challenge dismissal, 12 June 2017
Civil court12 December 2016Western Cape High Court (Rogers J)
A second judgment held his subsequent appointment as Group Executive of Corporate Affairs unlawful, and held he was not entitled to occupy any position at the SABC pending a fresh disciplinary process.
Source: Polity, Court finds Motsoeneng's appointment unlawful, 12 December 2016
Civil court26 July 2016Labour Court, Johannesburg
The court found the SABC's dismissal of four of the seven dismissed journalists of the group known as the SABC 8 unlawful — Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp — and interdicted further disciplinary action. The SABC said it would appeal, reversed that the same afternoon, and the dismissed journalists returned to work on 28 July 2016. The eighth member of the group, Vuyo Mvoko, was a contracted freelancer rather than a dismissed employee and remained outside the SABC.
Sources disagree: Outlets differ on how many returned to work, with reports of both six and seven.
Sources: TimesLIVE, Court orders SABC to reinstate axed journalists, 26 July 2016 · BusinessTech, Sacked SABC journalists must be reinstated: Labour Court, 26 July 2016 · BusinessTech, Fired SABC journalists back at work, 28 July 2016
Regulator11 July 2016Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
ICASA directed the SABC to withdraw its resolution not to broadcast footage of violent protest, published on 26 May 2016, giving it seven days to confirm the reversal in writing or risk its broadcasting licence. The complainants were Media Monitoring Africa, the SOS Coalition and the Freedom of Expression Institute. Motsoeneng's response: “No one is going to tell us what to do. We are on track. We are not apologetic.”
Sources: Mail & Guardian, Icasa orders the SABC to stop its ban on violent protests or risk losing its broadcasting licence, 11 July 2016 · Daily Maverick, Hlaudi Motsoeneng after Icasa ruling: We are not going to change anything, 12 July 2016 · News24 (City Press), No one tells us what to do – Hlaudi, 11 July 2016
Civil court1 November 2015Western Cape High Court (Davis J)
Judge Dennis Davis set aside his permanent appointment as Chief Operating Officer, calling it “manifestly an act of irrationality which stands to be set aside.” Leave to appeal was dismissed on 23 May 2016.
Sources: IOL, Appointment of SABC COO unlawful, 1 November 2015 · Daily Maverick, Hlaudi Motsoeneng: Another court defeat, but still fighting, 24 May 2016
Record2015
Separately, in 2015 the SABC board approved a rise taking his pay from R2.8 million to R3.7 million in a year the broadcaster reported a R395-million loss. This was eighteen months after the Public Protector's report and is not one of its findings.
Amount: R2.8 million to R3.7 million; R395 million annual loss
Source: BusinessTech, I am worth R3.7 million: SABC's Motsoeneng, 2015
Commission finding17 February 2014Public Protector
The report “When Governance and Ethics Fail” found “his dishonesty relating to the misrepresentation of his qualification” — he claimed on a 1995 SABC application form to have completed matric when he had not. It also found his salary rose from R1.5 million to R2.4 million across three increases in a single year, and that as acting chief operating officer his pay went from R122,961 to R211,172 in twelve months, a 63% increase.
Amount: R1.5 million to R2.4 million
Sources: Parliamentary Monitoring Group (hosting the Public Protector's report), When Governance and Ethics Fail, Report No. 23 of 2013/14, 17 February 2014 · Mail & Guardian, Madonsela finds SABC's Motsoeneng unlawfully hiked salary, 17 February 2014 · Daily Maverick, Decoding Hlaudi: the Public Protector's SABC report, 18 February 2014

Anoj Singh

Chief Financial Officer, Transnet
Chief Financial Officer, Eskom

A charged accused awaiting trial over Transnet procurement, excluded from the chartered accountancy profession in 2020 for misconduct.

Charged — untried29 August 2022Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, then Gauteng High Court
He appeared on 29 August 2022 with Brian Molefe and Regiments Capital directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonyha. He and Molefe faced Public Finance Management Act contraventions and fraud; all four were granted R50,000 bail. The matter was transferred to the High Court on 23 February 2024. On 30 June 2025 he was arrested again, with Molefe, Siyabonga Gama and former engineer Thamsanqa Jiyane, over a separate locomotive matter, each granted R50,000 bail. No plea has been entered and there is no conviction.
Sources disagree: The 2022 matter was reported at R398.4 million at the time and as R405 million in later coverage. A figure of R93 million is attached by some outlets to the 2022 arrest and by others to the 2025 one; this site does not resolve which.
Sources: SAnews, Arrests of allegedly corrupt former Transnet execs a 'milestone', 29 August 2022 · Sowetan, Former Transnet bosses Molefe, Singh and two co-accused granted bail of R50k each, 29 August 2022 · Business Day, Transnet R400m fraud case transferred to high court, 23 February 2024 · IOL, Former Transnet executives granted R50,000 bail over Gupta-linked corruption charges, 30 June 2025 · Eyewitness News, Molefe, Gama among 4 ex-Transnet employees seeking bail after arrests, 30 June 2025
Commission recommendation — not a finding29 April 2022Zondo Commission
The commission found that “Singh, Molefe and Koko were all central to the origin and furtherance of a scheme at Eskom, designed to exploit Eskom and benefit Trillian”, and recommended the NPA consider prosecution for corruption over the Trillian payments. It found that without the co-operation of Molefe as chief executive, Singh as chief financial officer and Matshela Koko as head of generation, McKinsey, Regiments and Trillian would not have benefited, and that Molefe and Singh pursued off-site negotiations before any formal contracting began.
Sources: Corruption Watch, Zondo commission final report – Eskom capture scheme cooked up long before controversial contracts, 1 June 2022 · TimesLIVE, Charge ex-Eskom execs and Gupta acolytes Brian Molefe and Matshela Koko, says Zondo, 29 April 2022
Regulator14 August 2020South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
SAICA's disciplinary committee found him guilty of 12 of 18 charges and excluded him from membership on 14 August 2020, also ordering publication of his name and the findings and a 50% contribution to SAICA's costs. The findings included gross negligence, dishonesty and a “clear lack of accountability”, with Transnet and Eskom suffering “substantial financial prejudice”. The hearing began in November 2019; he declined to attend. He is no longer a CA(SA), since only SAICA members may use the designation.
Sources: Business Day, Saica withdraws Anoj Singh's membership due to misconduct, 21 August 2020 · OFM News, Ex-Eskom CFO stripped of chartered accountant status, 1 August 2020 · OUTA, Anoj Singh finally counted out, 1 August 2020
Commission finding13 April 2016Zondo Commission
On the R659-million “coal prepayment” Eskom made to Tegeta on 13 April 2016, the evidence was that the board tender committee resolved on the payment before any contract was signed, that the instruction reached the primary energy division through a general manager in Singh's office requiring payment by 2pm that day, and that a pre-existing purchase order was amended to effect it within about 82 minutes. Eskom was described as having “fooled the system”. The payment closed the funding gap on Tegeta's acquisition of Optimum Coal Mine. An earlier version of this entry said Singh signed the payment off jointly with Molefe; this site has not established that.
Amount: R659 million
Sources: Business Day, Eskom officials 'fooled the system' to pay R659m upfront for Gupta coal, 5 March 2019 · Daily Maverick, 82 minutes: That's all Eskom needed to rush through R659 million to the Guptas, 5 March 2019 · Corruption Watch, Zondo commission – Singh grilled on Tegeta pre-payment, 1 May 2021

Bathabile Dlamini

Minister of Social Development, November 2010 – February 2018
Minister in the Presidency for Women, February 2018 – May 2019
President, ANC Women's League, 2015 – 2022

Convicted of perjury in 2022 over evidence she gave to an inquiry the Constitutional Court had ordered into her own conduct, having earlier been ordered personally to pay part of the costs in that case.

Convicted1 April 2022Johannesburg Magistrate's Court
Sentenced on 1 April 2022 to four years' imprisonment, half suspended, with a R200,000 fine as the alternative. She paid R20,000 immediately and the balance by the end of that month.
Amount: R200,000 fine, paid
Sources: Polity, ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini gets jail time or R200 000 fine, 1 April 2022 · Business Day, Bathabile Dlamini must pay fine of R200,000 or go to jail for perjury, 1 April 2022
Convicted9 March 2022Johannesburg Magistrate's Court (Magistrate Betty Khumalo)
Convicted of perjury on 9 March 2022 for having knowingly and intentionally given false evidence before the section 38 inquiry — the inquiry into the social grants crisis chaired by Judge Bernard Ngoepe, which the Constitutional Court had ordered into her own conduct.
Sources: Wits University / Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Former Minister Bathabile Dlamini must pay for perjury, 1 April 2022 · News24, Bathabile Dlamini can't be blocked for ANCWL second term despite perjury conviction, 11 May 2023
Record11 June 2019
She remained in cabinet after the Constitutional Court's costs order, moving to Minister in the Presidency for Women. She was dropped from cabinet after the May 2019 election and resigned as a Member of Parliament on 11 June 2019. Her ANC Women's League presidency ran from August 2015, though the ANC disbanded the league's leadership in June 2019.
Sources: News24, 14 Dis-appointees who didn't make it back to Cabinet, 30 May 2019 · News24 (City Press), Bathabile Dlamini resigns as member of Parliament, 11 June 2019
Civil court27 September 2018Constitutional Court
In Black Sash Trust v Minister of Social Development and Others (Freedom Under Law Intervening) [2018] ZACC 36, the Court found her conduct “reckless and grossly negligent” and ordered her to pay 20% of the applicants' costs in her personal capacity, including the costs of two counsel — an exceptionally rare order against a sitting minister. The specific ground was her failure to make full disclosure to the Court, which it found she withheld because she feared being joined personally and ordered to pay costs. She complied, paying roughly R600,000.
Sources: Constitutional Court of South Africa, Black Sash Trust and Another v Minister of Social Development and Others (Case CCT 48/17), 27 September 2018 · Polity, Black Sash Trust v Minister of Social Development and Others (Freedom Under Law intervening) (CCT48/17) [2018] ZACC 36, 28 September 2018 · Corruption Watch, Dlamini complies with court order, pays CSO legal costs, 2019
Record17 March 2017
On the social grants crisis: the Cash Paymaster Services contract did not simply lapse. On 17 March 2017 the Constitutional Court suspended its earlier declaration of invalidity for twelve months and allowed the contract to continue so grants would be paid on 1 April, ordering that the previous contract's terms and conditions continue to apply and that any change in what CPS was paid go through National Treasury, with SASSA to report back every three months. The same order directed that she would be joined in her personal capacity and face a personal costs order unless she filed an affidavit by 31 March giving a reasonable defence — the thread leading to the September 2018 costs order.
Sources: Mail & Guardian, ConCourt extends CPS contract, 17 March 2017 · Daily Maverick, Social Grants Crisis: Concourt pulls no punches to ensure social grants will be paid on April 1, 17 March 2017 · Parliament of South Africa, SCOPA welcomes Constitutional Court judgement – SASSA and CPS contract, 1 March 2017

Richard Mdluli

Head of Crime Intelligence, South African Police Service, 2009 – 2012

Convicted in 2019 of intimidation, kidnapping and assault, sentenced to five years and released on parole in 2022. He is now on trial, with two former police officials, over the alleged looting of Crime Intelligence's secret service account.

Charged — untried5 May 2025Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
With former SAPS supply-chain manager Heine Barnard and former chief financial officer Solomon Lazarus, he faces 15 counts of fraud, corruption and contraventions of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act over the alleged looting of Crime Intelligence's Secret Services Account between 2008 and 2012, including allegations that the fund paid for private trips. All three pleaded not guilty on 5 May 2025, when the trial began. No verdict has been reported.
Sources: TimesLIVE, Mdluli, co-accused plead not guilty in crime intelligence corruption trial, 5 May 2025 · National Prosecuting Authority, Mdluli and co-accused pleaded not guilty in their corruption case, 1 May 2025
Record5 July 2022
He was placed on parole effective 5 July 2022 by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board, serving the remainder under the system of community corrections subject to supervision until his sentence expires. He qualified after serving one third of the sentence, under the regime applying to offences committed before 1 October 2004.
Sources: Polity, Former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli released on parole, 5 July 2022 · TimesLIVE, Richard Mdluli granted parole, 5 July 2022 · SABC News, Former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli released on parole, 5 July 2022
Convicted29 September 2020South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
Sentenced to five years on 29 September 2020, fourteen months after conviction, and he began serving immediately.
Sources: Herald Live, Former crime boss Richard Mdluli found guilty of kidnapping, assault, 30 July 2019 · Daily Maverick, Ex-spy boss Richard Mdluli gets parole, now for the long-delayed slush fund abuse case, 5 July 2022
Convicted30 July 2019South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg
Convicted on 30 July 2019, with Mthembeni Mthunzi, of four counts of intimidation, two of kidnapping, two of common assault and two of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The conduct concerned the kidnapping of his customary wife Tshidi Buthelezi and her husband Oupa Ramogibe, assault on Ramogibe, and intimidation of Buthelezi's friends and family.
Sources: Business Day, Richard Mdluli found guilty of kidnapping, assault and intimidation, 30 July 2019 · Sowetan, Former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli found guilty of assault, intimidation, kidnapping, 30 July 2019
Record2 November 2012
A murder charge related to the killing of Oupa Ramogibe on 17 February 1999; a warrant issued in March 2011 and charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and intimidation were withdrawn in 2012 pending an inquest. At the inquest on 2 November 2012, Magistrate Jurg Viviers in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court found no evidence implicating Mdluli in the murder — while also finding it plausible that he had orchestrated it, the facts being consistent with that but admitting of other explanations. Judge John Murphy ordered charges reinstated on 23 September 2013. He was never convicted of murder.
Sources disagree: The date the murder charges were withdrawn is given as February 2012 by some reporting and 10 April 2012 by others.
Sources: Mail & Guardian, Mdluli cleared of Oupa Ramogibe's murder, 2 November 2012 · IOL, Mdluli cleared of murder involvement, 3 November 2012 · amaBhungane, Mdluli lawyers tear into testimonies, 2012
Charges withdrawn14 December 2011National Prosecuting Authority, then Supreme Court of Appeal
Fraud and corruption charges concerning a R90,000 discount allegedly solicited to cover a shortfall on his private car, brought with Colonel Hein Barnard of the Crime Intelligence secret services account, were withdrawn on 14 December 2011 after Advocate Lawrence Mrwebi instructed on 4 December that they “must be withdrawn immediately”. The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in April 2014 that those charges must proceed. An earlier version of this entry described these as the Secret Service Account “slush fund” charges, which is a separate and later prosecution, and did not record that they were reinstated.
Amount: R90,000
Sources: Mail & Guardian, SCA rules some charges against Mdluli to be set aside, 17 April 2014 · Corruption Watch, Charges reinstated against Mdluli, Barnard, 2014 · Mail & Guardian, Timeline: Glynnis Breytenbach vs the NPA, 28 May 2013
This item is favourable to the subject.

John Block

MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape, 2004 – 2015
MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works, Northern Cape, 1999 – 2004
Chairperson, ANC Northern Cape, until October 2015

Convicted of fraud and money laundering in 2015 and sentenced to 15 years; the conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. He was released on parole in 2023 and faces a separate, untried prosecution.

Charged — untried18 February 2026Northern Cape High Court
He faces a separate, untried prosecution over the Kimberley Mental Hospital project, brought in 2023. He appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court on 1 August 2023 and was granted R50,000 bail, unopposed, while still serving his 15-year sentence. The charges are fraud, corruption, money laundering and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act. The allegation is that in 2003 Babereki Consulting Engineers CC was fraudulently awarded a tender as structural and civil engineer and project manager on the hospital construction project, with Block as political head and Patience Mercia Mokhali as head of department appointing it although it did not meet the requirements. Nine others are co-accused. The NPA puts the initial project budget at R297 million, escalating to over R1 billion, with financial prejudice now exceeding R88 million. The matter was transferred to the High Court on 18 February 2026, with a pre-trial hearing set for 23 April 2026; this site has not established a trial date. Christo Scholtz is not a co-accused in this matter, and an earlier version of this entry wrongly said the charges were first brought in December 2016 with him.
Amount: financial prejudice put at over R88 million
Sources: National Prosecuting Authority, Kimberley Mental Hospital case transferred to the High Court, 18 February 2026 · OFM News, Incarcerated former Northern Cape senior official granted bail, 1 August 2023 · Sunday World, Jailed former ANC bigwig John Block gets bail for tender fraud, 1 August 2023
Record10 November 2023
He began serving in late November 2018, after his appeals failed — not from the December 2016 sentencing. He was placed on parole effective 10 November 2023, released from the Upington correctional centre and under correctional supervision until his sentence expires on 26 June 2029. He benefited from the special remissions of sentence of 2019, 2020 and 2023, which brought his minimum detention date forward to 13 September 2023. An earlier parole application in 2023 was rejected, and a court order required the department and the parole board to reconsider.
Sources: OFM News, NC's John Block begins 15-year jail sentence, 1 November 2018 · Polity, Ex-ANC leader John Block granted parole, 10 November 2023 · Sowetan, Former Northern Cape ANC provincial chair John Block released on parole, 10 November 2023
Civil court21 August 2018Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court
The Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against both conviction and sentence on 21 August 2018, unanimously, holding that he and Scholtz were “correctly convicted of corruption” and that Block “used his influence to coerce officials to conclude irregular leases with Trifecta, in contravention of supply chain management procedures.” Judge Eric Leach: “Mr Block was a political leader who achieved high political office. Unfortunately, he used his status to corruptly enrich himself.” The Constitutional Court dismissed his application for leave to appeal in November 2018, and he began serving his sentence later that month. A related forfeiture of about R60 million from a Block-linked company was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal on 1 October 2019.
Sources: TimesLIVE, No lenience for ANC kingpin John Block, who 'used status to enrich himself', 21 August 2018 · National Prosecuting Authority, SCA Dismisses Block, Scholtz Leave to Appeal 15 Year Sentences, 1 August 2018 · Business Day, Constitutional Court orders John Block to go to jail, 20 November 2018 · News24, John Block, Christo Scholtz corruption saga comes to an end, 1 October 2019
Convicted14 October 2015Northern Cape High Court
Convicted on 14 October 2015 and sentenced on 6 December 2016 to 15 years, with co-accused Christo Scholtz receiving the same. He received cash, renovations to his Upington guest house and shares in a Trifecta subsidiary in exchange for ensuring Trifecta Holdings was awarded government leases at grossly inflated rentals, on leases running from May 2006. The Supreme Court of Appeal later recorded gratifications including R228,000 and R500,000. He resigned as ANC Northern Cape chairperson on 16 October 2015, two days after conviction.
Amount: R728,000 in recorded gratifications
Sources disagree: Reporting differs on how the counts were distributed: some has Block and his company Chisane Investments convicted of fraud and money laundering with the corruption counts attaching to Scholtz and Trifecta, while the Supreme Court of Appeal described Block as “correctly convicted of corruption”.
Sources: Mail & Guardian, John Block guilty of corruption, fraud, money laundering, 14 October 2015 · Business Day (Rand Daily Mail), ANC heavyweight gets 15 years for fraud and money laundering, 7 December 2016 · News24, ANC's John Block resigns following corruption conviction, 16 October 2015