Africa’s first investigative environmental journalism unit

Combining traditional investigative reporting with data analysis and geo-mapping to expose eco-offences and track organised criminal syndicates in southern Africa

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LATEST INVESTIGATIONS

Fire factories
Adapt, or die: technology helps to put out wildfires that are costing South Africa billions in damages and lost livelihoods. A multimedia investigation by Tricia Govindasamy
Oxpeckers Reporters
25 August, 2017

Furore over Namibia’s donkey slaughter plans
Namibia has given the go-ahead to two donkey abattoirs that plan to export meat to Vietnam and skins to China. They have met stiff opposition from locals, reports Oscar Nkala
Oxpeckers Reporters
28 August, 2017

Furore over Namibia’s donkey slaughter plans
Namibia has given the go-ahead to two donkey abattoirs that plan to export meat to Vietnam and skins to China. They have met stiff opposition from locals, reports Oscar Nkala
Oxpeckers Reporters
28 August, 2017

Fire factories
Adapt, or die: technology helps to put out wildfires that are costing South Africa billions in damages and lost livelihoods. A multimedia investigation by Tricia Govindasamy
Oxpeckers Reporters
25 August, 2017

Inside Botswana’s illegal donkey trade
Chinese traders are driving the cruel slaughter of donkeys across Southern Africa, for traditional potions that use gelatin in the hide. Investigation by Oscar Nkala...
24 August, 2017
From Mozambique to China, money talks
More than 90% of Mozambican timber is exported to China at less than its true value. Estacio Valoi uncovers collusion between shipping agents, customs officials and port managers...
22 August, 2017
State forest capture
Ancient hardwood trees in the Caprivi State Forest are being looted by a Chinese syndicate exploiting legal loopholes and de-bushing tenders for farming. John Grobler investigates...
09 August, 2017
Science and ‘social learning’ key to reduce climate disaster risks
Disrupting the Future: How communities and experts work together to reduce flood disaster risks in Limpopo. A multimedia #ClimaTracker investigation by Anina Mumm...
25 July, 2017
No mining at Mabola for ‘the foreseeable future’
Mining at the Mabola protected water zone is on hold – for now. The status of the mining right is unclear after court action by civil society groups this week, reports Mark Olalde...
30 June, 2017
Why rhinos shiver and shake
Understanding and dealing with tremors during veterinary treatment is essential to securing the species, reports Louise de Bruin...
27 June, 2017
Watership down: the reality of mining Mabola
Mabola is a strategic water source that feeds four of South Africa's major rivers, but the government has approved a licence to mine coal there. Oxpeckers broke the story in 2015, and recently paid a site visit to the Mabola headwaters...
16 June, 2017
How SA’s abalone ends up on China’s plates
Crystal Chow investigates how the race over the most sought-after delicacy in Asia embodies the developmental dilemma in post-apartheid South Africa...
09 June, 2017
South Africa’s future without coal
The future of electricity generation is no longer guaranteed to the coal industry. Which forms of power will keep the lights on? Mark Olalde investigates...
25 May, 2017
How I helped Leila
Journalist John Grobler was on assignment in Angola when he came across a young chimpanzee in trouble. This is the story of his mission to take her to a place of safety...
23 May, 2017
R60-billion held for mines that are never closed
Never-before-seen data shows a fortune has been set aside for mine rehabilitation in South Africa. But large mines are not being properly closed, and the money cannot be touched. Mark Olalde investigates...
17 May, 2017
Spy arrests lift lid on Botswana’s silent trafficking threat
Botswana has a global reputation for zero tolerance of poaching and wildlife crimes. In recent years, however, it has become vulnerable to insider wildlife crimes committed by rogue security forces. Oscar Nkala investigates...
10 May, 2017
When towns run dry
Adapt, or die: How do people survive when there's no water in their taps and the dams are bone-dry? A multimedia investigation by Yolandi Groenewald and Johnny Miller...
05 May, 2017
Can land reform feed South Africa?
President Jacob Zuma is talking tough about radical land redistribution and the expropriation of farms. If reform is not well targeted it may threaten food security and benefit only the elites in rural areas, reports Michelle Nel...
26 April, 2017
Coal mines leave a legacy of ruin
Oxpeckers publishes never-before-seen data exposing the lack of mine closures, despite R45-billion being held in financial provisions for rehabilitation in 2015. Investigation by Mark Olalde...
07 April, 2017
Northern Cape gears up to tackle malaria
The Northern Cape is mostly a dry province, but preventing malaria is one of the measures it is taking to adapt to climate change, reports Rehana Dada...
29 March, 2017