---
title: "Update following Moepathutse complaint to Press Ombud"
description: "The amaBhungane series about the Independent Development Trust and former Minister Sihle Zikalala has been updated following a complaint by Moepathutse Property Investments."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "AMABHUNGANE"
author: "amaBhungane"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/amabhungane/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-07-update-following-moepathutse-complaint-to-press-ombud/"
published: "2025-11-07T20:40:06"
updated: "2025-11-07T20:40:09"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 85
---

# Update following Moepathutse complaint to Press Ombud

> The amaBhungane series about the Independent Development Trust and former Minister Sihle Zikalala has been updated following a complaint by Moepathutse Property Investments.

By amaBhungane · Published 7 November 2025, 22:40 SAST · Updated 7 November 2025, 22:40 SAST

## Key points
- In a tale as twisty as a soap opera plot, Deputy Press Ombud Tyrone August has forced amaBhungane to amend their story on Minister Zikalala and CEO Malaka after a High Court ruling reminded everyone that even the best investigative journalists can miss a detail or two.
- Deputy Press Ombud Tyrone August rules on amaBhungane's reporting, prompting updates to their series on IDT mistrust.
- High Court ruling in favor of Moepathutse highlights errors in amaBhungane's initial coverage.
- Ombud dismisses most complaints but emphasizes the need for accuracy in reporting court outcomes.
- For full details on the ruling, visit the Press Council's official website.

## Content

Read the updated article here: [IDT mistrust (Part One)](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-30-idt-mistrust-part-one-how-minister-zikalala-and-his-comrade-chair-nixed-probes-into-ceo-malaka/?preview_id=2739514&preview_nonce=cbaad08063&_thumbnail_id=2738589&preview=true)

Following a ruling by Deputy Press Ombud Tyrone August, amaBhungane has updated Part One of this series to reflect the outcome of a High Court ruling in Moepathutse’s favour, dated May 2025 and traversed in Part Two of this series.

The Ombud ruled against most of the complaints by Moepathutse but found that amaBhungane erred by not including some details of the court ruling that favoured Moepathutse. For the full ruling, see [https://presscouncil.org.za/2025/09/22/moepathutse-property-investments-and-directors-vs-amabhungane/](https://presscouncil.org.za/2025/09/22/moepathutse-property-investments-and-directors-vs-amabhungane/)