Viewfinder is a Cape Town–based nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on accountability journalism in post‑apartheid South Africa. Founded in 2019 by editor Daneel Knoetze, it conducts long‑term investigations into abuses of power with a particular focus on police brutality and failures of oversight. Its flagship projects include Above the Law, which revealed how South African Police Service managers shield officers implicated in murder, torture, rape and corruption; Killing the Files, which exposed systemic case‑closing at the police watchdog; and the Police Accountability Tracker, a public database of more than 47,000 complaints that allows communities to examine patterns at local stations. Viewfinder publishes narrative features, short documentaries and data‑driven explainers, and co‑publishes with partners across the South African media ecosystem, including GroundUp, Daily Maverick, Carte Blanche and News24. In 2025 it collaborated with the New York Times on an analysis showing the continued use of “tubing,” an apartheid‑era suffocation method, across police stations. Beyond reporting, Viewfinder strengthens investigative capacity through editing, mentorship and reporting grants in the Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project with the Henry Nxumalo Foundation and Oxpeckers. Its work has earned international recognition, including the 2023 Global Shining Light Award (Small and Medium Outlets) for Above the Law and second prize in the 2022 Fetisov Journalism Awards for civil rights reporting.

Source: Code for Africa

Last updated date: July 2026

Location:
Cape. Town, South Africa
Year the organization started publishing:
2019
Languages:
English
Type of coverage:
National

Content

Editorial coverage:
Generalist, focused on multiple topics
Type of content produced by theme:
Politics
Law and crime
Society and human rights
Journalism genres:
Narrative journalism
Journalism coverage types and techniques:
Collaborative journalism
Fact-checking
Tech platforms and other mediums used:
Social media platforms
Podcast
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Audience and reach

Social media audience

Facebook number of followers:
663
Twitter number of followers:
2,012
Instagram number of followers:
511

Management and team

Founders

Female:
0
Male:
1
Founders:
Daneel Knoetze
Directors:
N/a

Team

Full-time employees:
1
Part-time employees:
0
Freelancers or consultants:
9
Volunteers:
0

Business structure and revenue sources

Organization tax status:
Non-profit

Why is this profile included?

This media outlet is part of our directory because it meets SembraMedia’s inclusion criteria: it produces original content, serves the public interest, and works with independence and transparency. This profile was developed using information provided directly by the media outlet, through surveys or interviews. We aim to keep the information current, but SembraMedia does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness, and recommends verifying any key details with the media organization.

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