March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and her husband, Xolani Zuma, are linked to government contracts worth nearly R12 million, according to News24. Image credit supplied
A News24 investigation has linked March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and her husband, Xolani Zuma, to state contracts worth nearly R12 million. The report on the Ngobese-Zuma state contracts covers deals and payments since 2021. It has also sparked fierce debate online, as her supporters accuse the publication of targeting her.
News24 published the investigation on Sunday. According to the publication, it used National Treasury procurement records, government spending reports and state tender portals.
What News24 found about the Ngobese-Zuma state contracts
The largest contract involves the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. According to News24, the department awarded XJ Family Enterprise a three year farmer support contract. The deal is worth R10.5 million. Of that amount, the department set aside R3.5 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
News24 reports that Ngobese-Zuma and her husband are both directors of the company. The company registered in September 2024. Less than a year later, in June 2025, the department advertised the tender. The publication also questioned the couple’s experience in farming. It noted that Xolani Zuma, an attorney, bought a farm in KwaZulu-Natal for about R2 million in 2022.
In addition, News24 looked at Zuma and Partners Incorporated, a law firm that Xolani Zuma runs. The firm received more than R1 million from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. These payments came through seven transactions between 2024 and 2026.
The investigation also traced smaller amounts to Sodelwa Trading, Ngobese-Zuma’s events company. According to News24, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation paid the company R118 000 for advertising work in 2021/22. The company also received R20 000 from a national Covid 19 relief programme.
News24 argues that the contracts raise questions about a possible conflict of interest. Ngobese-Zuma’s organisations have threatened legal action against government over illegal immigration. At the same time, the couple’s businesses do work for the state. However, News24 said it found no evidence that former president Jacob Zuma played any role in the contracts.
Importantly, the investigation does not claim that anyone broke the law in awarding the contracts. So far, none of the departments involved has commented publicly on the findings.
Ngobese-Zuma responded before News24 published the story. On 7 October, journalist Khaya Koko asked her for comment. In reply, she posted a screenshot of his message on Facebook. She accused him of spreading lies and challenged News24 to prove its claims. However, the screenshot showed Koko’s phone number. He then received more than 100 threatening calls and messages. As a result, News24 sent her a letter of demand, and Sanef condemned the post as doxxing. Xolani Zuma has not commented publicly.
Meanwhile, commentary across social media platforms remains sharply divided. Some users say the report raises fair questions about a political leader who does business with the state. Others argue that South Africans have every right to win tenders. They also accuse News24 of trying to undermine the movement.
One viral post on X turned the spotlight back on the publication. It shared an SABC tender record from February 2025. The record shows that Media24, the parent company of News24, won a R2.6 million single source contract. It describes the deal as media subscription services for five years. Supporters of Ngobese-Zuma shared the post widely and accused News24 of double standards. Media24 has not responded publicly.
Ngobese-Zuma rose to national prominence after March and March led a nationwide shutdown on 30 June. The shutdown called on undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
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