The Black Business Council (BBC) has raised alarm over allegations of corruption involving suspended Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), Tebogo Malaka, and is calling for more severe repercussions for individuals implicated in corruption. This plea comes shortly after reports surfaced accusing Malaka of attempting to bribe journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh to suppress allegations pertaining to corruption.
Malaka, who was suspended following a thorough investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), is at the centre of a scandal relating to irregularities surrounding the IDT’s R836 million oxygen plants project, a crucial initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. The significance of these plants, which were designed to bolster healthcare capabilities, has now been overshadowed by the shadow of corruption.
In a statement reflecting the BBC’s strong stance against corruption, CEO Kganki Matabane said, “We’ve got a principled stand against corruption and it does not matter who commits corruption. The law must deal with those people very harshly.” Matabane emphasised that corruption undermines essential services and resources that are vital for the country’s development.
“If there is money disappearing from such institutions, it creates a problem in the country. So, whoever gets involved in corruption has to be dealt with harshly,” he added, underlining the importance of accountability within the IDT and other critical sectors.
Attention is now turned towards Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, who is scheduled to address the media on Thursday regarding these damning allegations. His remarks are anticipated to shed light on the government’s approach to tackling corruption and enforcing accountability.
Myburgh, an investigative journalist for Daily Maverick, has revealed that he will publish a new exposé implicating Malaka on Monday. He claims to have obtained exclusive video footage and audio recordings from a meeting where Malaka and her spokesperson allegedly offered him R60,000 to suppress an investigation into a controversial IDT contract.
This revelation adds a further dimension to the already burgeoning scandal, which is now drawing the eyes of the nation as it seeks clarity on the reliability of the entities entrusted with immense public funds.