Open Secrets ZA

Check out our May newsletter and subscribe to our mailing list! From in-depth investigative reporting on the potential profiteers of a Basic Income Grant, to our relentless pursuit of legal accountability for those implicated in State Capture in Zimbabwe, Open Secrets continued to pursue accountability in May. https://lnkd.in/eas5u9PT

Join Open Secrets and Currency for the launch of Open Secrets’ new report: The Corporations and Economic Crime Report Vol. 4: The Oil and Gas Majors Fossil fuel giants like Total, Shell, and Impact Oil and Gas, are doubling down on drilling off South Africa’s coast, with the full backing of the South African government. This is despite South Africa’s climate commitments, the significant environmental, economic, and health risks associated with oil and gas exploration and production, and the resistance of local communities. This scramble for fossil fuels not only lines the pockets of elites, but flies in the face of South Africa’s promises to reduce carbon emissions, combat climate change, and pursue sustainable economic development. Currency's Rob Rose will host a crucial conversation with Open Secrets' Luvano Ntuli and Michael Marchant, alongside Priyanka Naidoo from Green Connection, to uncover how these corporations are pushing for expansion and profits, despite fierce resistance. Don't miss this important launch—join us as we expose the fight for control of South Africa's energy future!

Grab your lunch and join us at 12PM for a deep dive into Big Oils scramble for South Africa's coast! We're launching The Corporations & Economic Crime Report Vol. 4 with Currency News. Tune in to hear how industry giants are setting fire to South Africa's future! Register here: https://lnkd.in/dXrYhUxg Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/dP4ajZ-D

Join us for an exclusive sneak-peek at Open Secrets new interactive tool—the PowerMapper. The PowerMapper profiles the ‘power players’ who profit from the climate crisis and the transition to renewable energy. Drawing from our investigative report, Who Has the Power? South Africa’s Energy Profiteers, the PowerMapper is designed to shed light on the key private actors in the coal, gas, oil, and renewable energy sectors. During the session, Open Secrets Campaigner Letlhogonolo Letshele will be joined by investigators Michael Marchant and Zen Mathe. Together, they will demonstrate how the PowerMapper can be used to identify and profile the key private entities driving the coal, gas, oil, and renewable energy sectors. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the forces shaping South Africa’s energy landscape! Register now!

I’ll be joining Open Secrets ZA for their new report launch to discuss how fossil fuel corporations and political elites are hampering our country’s development and energy security! Join us on 16 October 🎥 details in the post below 👇

Dropping this Wednesday at 00:00! The Corporations and Economic Crime Report (CECR) Vol. 4: The Oil and Gas Majors https://lnkd.in/eyw2typ

Since the R60 million asset seizure from Markus Jooste’s lover, Berdine Odendaal, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has cracked down on exchange control violations with aggressive asset seizures. Targeting companies like Silver Tiger Trade and individuals linked to the Steinhoff scandal, SARB is showing no mercy with more forfeitures to come. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dpm8gAqw

Australian-owned South32’s aluminium smelter uses over 5% of Eskom’s electricity—while facing minimal to no loadshedding and paying subsidized rates hidden from the public. Despite using excessive South African resources and labour, much of its $1.8bn revenue leaves the country. Worse, says Open Secrets' Michael Marchant, is that Eskom defends this secrecy while demanding a price hike of 36%-44% for ordinary consumers. https://lnkd.in/dJrPkSZb

In 2021, Mozambican soldiers “operating out of TotalEnergies’ natural gas plant” kidnapped, tortured, sexually assaulted, and massacred civilians falsely accused of being insurgents. Eyewitnesses told Politico that a commando unit led the violence; the leading officer admitted their mission was to protect “the project of Total.” TotalEnergies’ gas project, once Africa’s largest private investment, is now on hold. https://lnkd.in/gdTQ7CJG

In conversation on the "Chew On This" podcast hosted by the HEALA.Coalition, Open Secrets' Michael Marchant talks with Prof. Sue Goldstein and Yunus Carrim about the Health Promotion Levy, the lies of the sugar industry and the exploitation of its workers. Marchant says, "Corporations will talk one way, represent[ing] the interest, for example, of small-scale farmers. And yet, now, the business practitioners of Tongaat Hullett are fighting tooth and nail not to pay a R1.1 billion levy that that company owes in terms of the sugar act, which would go, amongst others, to small-scale farmers." WATCH: https://lnkd.in/d5hvCrn8