Today, Daily Maverick is proud to announce the official formation of our investigative unit, Scorpio.

Whilst we’ve pursued many investigative stories in the past, from Marikana to the manufactured narrative of the SARS Rogue Unit, we are only now able to commit the necessary funds and people to a dedicated unit.

We’d planned to have timed this announcement with a little more fanfare. A striking logo splashed across a dedicated section on our stylish new site, with stern-looking journalists posing at their cluttered desks. But as will be explained sometime soon, the realities are that even the best-laid plans are still subject to reality’s ever-changing demands.

Scorpio is a new chapter in a Daily Maverick book already teeming with exciting stories, challenges and adventures. We don’t take entering into this space lightly, given the country’s medium-term future, people’s freedom and lives could be affected by our work. But it’s not only something we want to do – it’s something we must do.