SERIES: #MotiFiles
In 2023 AmaBhungane came into possession of documents leaked from within the Moti Group of companies belonging to the flamboyant and controversial businessman Zunaid Moti. What emerged was a tale of political patronage and corporate intrigue that Moti tried so hard to quash it resulted in a landmark court ruling on media freedom.
No holds barred: Controversial businessman Zunaid Moti locked in a vicious legal battle with former cage-fighter
Micah Reddy and Sam Sole
5 December, 2022
An irate investor who partnered with Zunaid Moti on a platinum venture has dragged the controversial businessman to court over allegations of fraud in connection with a platinum venture .
The Moti Files: Red flags in police hunt for former Moti Group employee
AmaBhungane Team
17 February, 2023
As controversial businessman Zunaid Moti’s sprawling multi-billion rand conglomerate scrambles to contain a leak of sensitive company information, questions have been raised about the role of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and prominent forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan.
The Moti Files: How businessman Zunaid Moti cosied up to the Mnangagwa regime
AmaBhungane Team
28 April, 2023
A trove of leaked internal documents has laid bare the close ties between controversial South African businessman Zunaid Moti and Zimbabwe’s highest-ranking politicians, bringing to light evidence of dubious multimillion dollar transactions, a sustained effort to accumulate political influence, and.
Zunaid Moti’s ‘inside man’ at Investec
AmaBhungane Team
17 May, 2023
There is an old cliché about banking: If you owe your bank a million it’s your problem.
Analysis: Moti’s war for credibility
AmaBhungane Team
18 May, 2023
When amaBhungane first approached businessman Zunaid Moti with detailed questions on 11 April, his lawyers stalled.
#MotiFiles: Moti Group granted secret court order muzzling investigative journalists
AmaBhungane Team
2 June, 2023
Update: 3 June 2023 AmaBhungane welcomes the court order issued at midday today undoing the worst aspects of the order obtained against us by the Moti Group in a secret court hearing on Thursday.
Comment: Zunaid Moti’s war on amaBhungane and on journalism
AmaBhungane Team
26 June, 2023
“When you tear out a man’s tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you are only telling the world that you fear what he might say.
HIGH COURT BATTLE: Moti Group vs amaBhungane
AmaBhungane Team
27 June, 2023
Today, amaBhungane appear in the High Court to set aside the Moti Group’s unprecedented gag order against the #MotiFiles.
Victory! A massive vindication for amaBhungane and journalism
Sam Sole
4 July, 2023
Judge Roland Sutherland issued a scathing rebuke for the Moti Group and its lawyers in a judgment yesterday which overturned the earlier gag order obtained against amaBhungane in a secret ex parte hearing.
Countering the Moti Group’s misrepresentations – a summary for those following and covering the story.
amaBhungane
10 July, 2023
Judge Sutherland handed down judgment in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, 3 July 2023, in our case with the Moti Group.

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