SERIES: Steinhoff
Soon after the South African corporate giant, Steinhoff, collapsed in 2017, amaBhungane began investigating how the fraud was conducted, who knew about it, and how it was covered-up for so long. We sought access to the forensic investigation report and, when our request was refused, began a lengthy court battle challenging the refusal and broad secrecy around South Africa’s biggest corporate fraud.
Steinhoff’s secret history – How Markus Jooste’s scam began
1 November, 2018
For years, former CEO Markus Jooste and his inner circle wove an intricate web of opaque deals hidden from shareholders.
Advocacy release: No to Steinhoff secrecy
31 October, 2019
AmaBhungane and Financial Mail join forces to take on corporate “cover-up”.
Steinhoff’s Billion-Dollar Game of Chicken
25 March, 2021
The disgraced group’s global settlement proposal hangs in the balance, as claimants clash in court over questions of legality and fairness – including whether the big boys like Christo Wiese are unfairly advantaged.
Advocacy Update: amaBhungane and Arena win court bid for access to Steinhoff report
12 May, 2022
The Western Cape High Court has found in favour of Tiso Blackstar (now Arena Holdings) and amaBhungane in their application to gain access to a PwC report commissioned by embattled retailer Steinhoff.
Steinhoff’s dogged battle to keep its secrets
29 January, 2024
We all know the story of Steinhoff and Markus Jooste.
Steinhoff and access to information: what’s at stake?
5 June, 2024
During the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA) hearing of Steinhoff’s appeal against the High Court order that it disclose the investigative report into the company’s collapse, Judge Pieter Meyer made a comment that neatly summarised the case.
Steinhoff’s desperate efforts to conceal its financial skeletons have failed
5 December, 2024
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) threw out Steinhoff’s appeal against a high court decision ordering the company to release the full report of a forensic investigation into the massive fraud that pitched Steinhoff into free-fall and eventual liquidation,.
Inside the PwC report: What really brought Steinhoff to its knees
6 February, 2025
It is late November 2017 and Steinhoff, already Europe’s second-largest furniture retailer after Ikea, is scrambling to convince its auditor Deloitte to sign off its accounts for the year to September, due to be published a week later, on December.
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