News24 The Lead

Exposing the pension agency’s near R1bn ghost headquarters deal

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Another day, another allegedly dodgy case involving a lesser-known state agency. This time, News24’s investigations team has uncovered evidence that the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) has issued millions to a company to facilitate its new headquarters in the capital, Pretoria. Yet contractor Shula Developers has not secured the lease to step foot in the building. Are we being duped as taxpayers yet again? Our senior investigative journalist, Sikonathi Mantshantsha, believes this is a giant fake, “ghost” deal! Later in the show, a Cape Town man will spend five years behind bars for a hoax bomb threat, all to get out of work. Finally, some Kenyans discover that Starlink’s not all what it’s cracked up to be. You can send show host Graeme Raubenheimer a short voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to our official The Lead WhatsApp line, that’s: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to thelead@24.com. Editions drop on Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  
Chapters
  • 00:01 Graeme's intro
  • 01:40 Crossing to Sikonathi Mantshantsha
  • 30:17 Trending topic: CPT man sentenced for hoax
  • 31:29 AD: Listen Up! With Tim Cohen & Mark Barnes
  • 32:23 And finally: Kenyans disconnect from Starlink
  • 33:25 Graeme's outro
11 Aug 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

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