Caryn Dolley

Caryn Dolley is one of South Africa’s most formidable investigative journalists, with more than 20 years of newsroom experience across the country’s leading publications, including News24, Daily Maverick, and amaBhungane. A cum laude graduate in journalism from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Caryn has dedicated her career to exposing organised crime and its deep entanglement with politics, business, and global networks. She is the author of four acclaimed non-fiction books that unpack the real operations of South Africa’s criminal underworld and its global connections, earning her multiple awards and recognition as a leading voice on these issues.

Caryn offers a rare window into the dark intersections between crime, politics, and misinformation, drawing on real investigations and decades of reporting. She brings clarity, context and humanity to complex issues like:

• The local-global nexus of organised crime
• How criminality infiltrates politics, law enforcement, and the private sector
• Disinformation and its use in shielding crime and manipulating public opinion
• Real journalistic experiences and the realities of working in South Africa’s media industry
• Public myths vs what’s really happening behind headlines

Caryn’s work has sparked public conversation, informed policy, and shifted how we understand the reach and risk of organised crime. Her books and investigative journalism have become essential reading for academics, law enforcement, and citizens alike who want to grasp the full picture of criminality in South Africa and beyond.

Caryn is a compelling, grounded, and highly engaging speaker. She masterfully weaves investigative findings with gripping personal anecdotes, making complex issues feel personal, urgent, and real. Her style is conversational and inclusive, often infused with humour when appropriate, and always focused on helping audiences see how these issues affect their own lives.