DID MARKUS JOOSTE REALLY DIE? NATION SPECULATES

Silence from authorities regarding the mystery raises suspicion

- THABO MAKWAKWA

IT HAS been over a year since the mysterious death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste. Yet, questions surrounding the circumstances of his demise remain unanswered, sparking concerns about the authorities' lack of transparency.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has maintained silence on the investigation, offering no updates or explanations about the case.

Officially, Jooste was said to have died by suicide last year, but details remain scarce. Reports indicate that Jooste succumbed to a gunshot wound at his Cape Town residence in Hermanus, but crucial questions linger:

Were witnesses present? Was a proper investigation conducted? And what do the post-mortem reports reveal?

A day before his death, Jooste was under intense scrutiny from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), which had imposed a R475 million administrative fine on him for accounting irregularities linked to his former company, Steinhoff.

The fallout from the scandal had already shaken South Africa's financial sector, with allegations that Jooste's actions had jeopardised billions of rand in public funds.