amaBhungane

The amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC is a non-profit company founded to develop investigative journalism in the public interest.

We do so through:
* The best practice of investigations;
* Helping others to do the same; and
* Helping to secure the information rights investigative journalists need to do their work.

Through these activities, we hope to promote a free media, and open accountable and just democracy.
AmaBhungane is isiZulu for the Dung Beetles.

Why non-profit?

Investigative journalism helps to promote open, accountable and just democracy by exposing wrongdoing and holding power to account. However, investigative journalism faces internal threats (resource constraints in a commercial and changing media environment) and external threats (restrictive laws, policies and practices).

Investigative journalism is an expensive, risky investment. It needs time and resources to succeed; to uncover facts beyond the apparent; to hold the powerful to account.

In a purely commercial environment, investigative journalism often struggles to compete with instantly gratifying, fast-food journalism - the kind that sells papers today but wraps fish tomorrow.

Non-profit, donor funded models represent an alternative gaining ground worldwide. Adequate funding without a profit motive helps to ensure that the public interest in the exposure of wrongdoing is served.

Legal status, mandate and governance

We are registered in South Africa as a non-profit company, and have Public Benefit Organisation tax-exempt status from the South African Revenue Service. Our mandate is expressed as follows:

"The Object of the Company is to promote open, accountable and just democracy, and a free press capable and worthy of performing this duty. To do so, the Company will develop investigative journalism in the public interest, inter alia by engaging in its best practice, by transferring investigative skills to other journalists, and by helping to secure the information rights investigative journalists need to do their work."

Sam Sole and Stefaans Brümmer, veteran investigative journalists, are amaBhungane's joint managing partners.

*For further details visit our website page: http://amabhungane.co.za/page/about-amabhungane