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DPCI puts it in writing: no money-laundering probe against Wicknell Chivayo
A formal letter from South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has put fresh focus on the controversy surrounding claims that Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo was being investigated for money laundering.
The letter, dated 24 August 2026 and addressed to attorneys representing Chivayo and Intratrek Holdings (Pty) Ltd, states that enquiries were made and that, as at the date of the letter, there was no investigation being conducted by the DPCI against Chivayo or Intratrek Holdings concerning allegations of money laundering.
The document provides a written record of the Hawks’ position and comes less than two months after the controversy erupted publicly in South Africa.
What the DPCI letter says
The letter, signed by the Acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, acknowledges receipt of correspondence from Mabuza Attorneys dated 4 August 2026.
It then states:
“This office has considered your request, and necessary enquiries were made and as such we confirm that, as at the date of this letter, there is no investigation conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) relating to Mr Wicknell Chivayo or Intratrek Holdings (Pty) Ltd concerning allegations of money laundering.”
That wording is significant.
Rather than simply being a public statement or a denial attributed to a spokesperson, the latest confirmation is contained in an official DPCI letter responding directly to a legal enquiry.
The letter, however, also contains a qualification.
It says the confirmation is based “solely on the information currently available to the DPCI” and does not prevent the Directorate from investigating a matter in future if circumstances warrant such action.
In other words, the document confirms the position as at 24 August 2026 – it does not provide immunity from any future investigation.
How the controversy started
The claims surrounding Chivayo centred largely on alleged financial transactions connected to Ren-Form CC, a Johannesburg-based company involved in the production of Zimbabwe’s 2023 election materials.
Reports and social media commentary alleged that hundreds of millions of rand had moved through South African accounts in transactions allegedly connected to Chivayo.
The allegations gained further traction after reports suggested that South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre had flagged transactions linked to the matter.
But an important distinction became central to the dispute: the FIC is not the Hawks and does not itself conduct criminal investigations. Its role includes generating and sharing financial intelligence with law enforcement and other competent authorities.
By early July, the Hawks publicly rejected the suggestion that Chivayo was the subject of an active investigation.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale was quoted as saying:
“The DPCI has no such case [on Chivayo] in our system.”
That clarification was followed by an apology from News24 after the publication acknowledged that it had incorrectly reported that Chivayo was under investigation by the FIC and Hawks in connection with money laundering.
News24’s apology
The July developments became particularly significant because the claims had not simply circulated on social media.
News24 had reported that Chivayo was being investigated by South African authorities. Following representations from his legal team, the publication acknowledged the error.
News24 said:
“News24 apologises for the error.”
The apology helped shift the dispute from whether an investigation existed to how the claim had come to be reported as fact in the first place.
Chivayo’s legal representatives, including advocate Dali Mpofu and attorney Eric Mabuza, welcomed the Hawks’ position and indicated that they would assess the broader legal implications of the reporting.
The latest letter strengthens the paper trail
The 24 August letter now adds another layer to that chronology.
In July, the Hawks said there was no such case in its system.
In August, the DPCI formally confirmed in writing that, after making the necessary enquiries, it had no investigation against Chivayo or Intratrek Holdings concerning money laundering as at 24 August.
That distinction matters because the latest document is not merely a repetition of Chivayo’s own denial.
It is a response from the law-enforcement body itself.
The wording also means that claims that Chivayo was, at that point, the subject of a DPCI money-laundering investigation cannot be presented as established fact without contradicting the agency’s written position.
But the letter does not say investigations can never happen
There is an important caveat that should not be overlooked.
The DPCI specifically states that its confirmation is based on information available to it at the time.
It adds that the confirmation:
“does not preclude the DPCI from investigating any matter should the circumstances warrant such action in accordance with the DPCI’s statutory mandate.”
That means the letter should not be interpreted as a permanent declaration that Chivayo could never face an investigation.
It says something narrower and more precise: as at 24 August 2026, the DPCI was not conducting an investigation against Chivayo or Intratrek Holdings concerning allegations of money laundering.
Why the distinction matters
The controversy is a reminder of the difference between an allegation, financial intelligence, a police investigation and a criminal charge.
A transaction being flagged for financial intelligence purposes does not automatically mean that a person is under criminal investigation.
Likewise, allegations reported in the media do not become established facts simply because they are repeated.
The July Hawks clarification and subsequent News24 apology had already raised questions about the original reporting. The August DPCI letter now provides documentary confirmation of the law-enforcement position.
Other reporting at the time also noted that Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption authorities had previously said they found no evidence implicating Chivayo in wrongdoing relating to the 2023 election procurement controversy.
The question that remains
For Chivayo and his legal team, the letter is another piece of documentary ammunition against the claim that he was under an active South African money-laundering investigation.
For the public, however, a different question remains.
If there was no DPCI investigation as at 24 August, and the Hawks had already said in July that there was no such case in its system, how did the allegation of an active South African investigation become so widely established in public discourse?
The DPCI letter does not answer that question.
It does, however, put the official position on paper.
As at 24 August 2026, the DPCI says there was no investigation against Wicknell Chivayo or Intratrek Holdings concerning allegations of money laundering.
The story has therefore moved beyond a simple denial.
Economy
Kimberley’s Benjie makes history with MasterChef SA win and R1 million prize
Andrew “Benjie” Benjamin has cooked his way into South African television history after being crowned the winner of MasterChef South Africa Season 6.
The 40-year-old home cook from Kimberley in the Northern Cape beat Durban finalist Candice Meth in the tense finale on Sunday, 16 August, walking away with the coveted title and a R1 million cash prize. His victory also made him the first contestant from the Northern Cape to win the competition.
For Benjie, the achievement was about far more than winning a reality television competition.
“I thought I wouldn’t even make it past episode two,” he admitted, crediting his wife for encouraging him to remain in the competition and take it “one episode at a time”.
He said the victory was particularly meaningful because of what it could represent for his family and people from his home province.
“There was a time when I thought that I wouldn’t make it even past episode two,” Benjamin said. “My wife encouraged me to stay on there.”
From high-voltage lines to the MasterChef kitchen
Benjie’s journey is unusual because cooking is not his full-time profession.
The Kimberley-born contestant works in high-voltage electrical line maintenance, dealing with hazardous electricity transmission lines, while cooking has remained a passion outside his day job.
He entered the competition alongside 19 other home cooks and quickly established himself as one of the contestants to watch.
Benjie earned his first Dish of the Day in only the second episode and went on to win seven challenges before reaching the final. One of those victories gave him a valuable 10-minute advantage for the final cook.
Throughout the competition, judges and fellow contestants affectionately nicknamed him “Benjie Baby”.
His playful approach to food also became part of his identity on the show. One of his standout creations was a sophisticated take on two-minute noodles, which he transformed into “Crêpes Suzette Benjette”.
Judge Chef Katlego Mlambo reportedly named it her favourite Benjie dish of the season, while a lamb pie also impressed London-based guest judge Chef Nokx Majozi.
A high-pressure finale
The final challenge saw Benjie go head-to-head with 39-year-old Candice Meth in a two-hour cook-off.
The finalists were tasked with creating a three-course meal that reflected their journeys throughout the competition.
Benjie prepared pan-fried salmon with leeks and white wine sauce as his starter, followed by pork belly with fennel and apple purées, mushy peas and red wine jus.
For dessert, he served meringue, vanilla sponge cake, raspberry coulis, chocolate crème pâtissière and vanilla ice cream.
The pressure was intense, particularly when his decision to bake the apples to intensify their flavour cost him precious time.
But he managed to complete his menu before the clock ran out.
Judges impressed by his final menu
Benjie had already been regarded as a strong contender, but his final performance ultimately convinced the judges that he deserved the title.
Ahead of the final cook, judge Justine Drake described him as a “dark horse”, while Zola Nene called him “laser-focused”.
His final dishes continued to impress.
The judges praised the execution of his salmon, while his pork belly stood out for its balance of flavours.
Nene went as far as describing the main course as something that could be seen “in a fine-dining restaurant”.
That combination of technical ability, creativity and composure ultimately gave Benjie the edge over Meth.
A victory for the Northern Cape
Benjie’s win has also become a source of pride for the Northern Cape, shining a spotlight on the province’s food traditions and homegrown culinary talent.
The new champion hopes his journey will encourage other people from the province to believe in their own abilities.
“We can make great food and compete with the best in the rest of the country,” he said.
He pointed to the diversity of the province, mentioning communities including Roodepan, Springbok, De Aar, Kuruman and the Kalahari as places with their own flavours and cooking traditions.
“Hopefully, my journey gives people the confidence to express themselves in the kitchen, too,” he said.
What’s next for Benjie?
Despite winning R1 million and becoming South Africa’s newest MasterChef, Benjie is not rushing to abandon his career.
He has said he still loves his day job and believes there is room for both his electrical work and his passion for cooking.
“I still love my day job, but there’s a place for both the job and cooking in my life,” he said.
As for his prize money, Benjie has more grounded plans. He wants to make renovations at home and spoil the family members who supported him throughout his journey.
He has also hinted at exploring his love for noodles further, with the possibility of a cookbook centred on the versatile ingredient.
For now, however, Benjie Baby can savour a remarkable achievement – a home cook from Kimberley has conquered one of South Africa’s biggest culinary competitions and brought the MasterChef crown to the Northern Cape for the first time.
MasterChef SA Season 6 in context
The sixth season of MasterChef South Africa premiered in February 2026 and concluded on 16 August after 26 episodes. The competition is built around amateur cooks competing in a series of culinary challenges, with contestants judged on their technical skills, creativity and ability to perform under pressure.
Benjie’s victory therefore represents the culmination of months of competition – and a major milestone for a contestant who entered the kitchen as a passionate home cook and left as South Africa’s latest MasterChef champion.
