The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that Premier Panyaza Lesufi request the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to urgently investigate the serious allegations against the MEC for Economic Development, Tasneem Motara, and her husband.
A group of concerned Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB) employees have written a joint letter to Premier Lesufi regarding allegations of maladministration, financial misconduct, governance breakdown, and institutional capture.
According to the letter sent to the DA, in January this year, the acting CEO, Thiran Marimuthu, was removed from his position by the MEC because his term had exceeded six months.
Furthermore, this happened at a time when the GGB was in the process of appointing a permanent CEO. However, it would appear that the MEC overstepped by terminating the employment of the acting CEO, as the power to do so lies with the board.
MEC Motara appointed Karabo Mbele to be the acting CEO for six months or until a permanent CEO is appointed, whichever comes first. She was appointed despite not having the necessary qualifications for the position.
There are also allegations that Mbele may be implicated in a forensic investigation that was started by Sekelaxabiso Privitiva (SkX) in 2020 for:
• Fruitless and wasteful expenditure relating to a trip to London for a GGB Board member;
• Fruitless and wasteful expenditure related to the appointment of Ncube Incorporated Attorneys to assist in the review and amendment of the Gauteng Gambling Act;
• Alleged diversion of funds to the GGB from a fined licensee to a charitable organisation at the instruction of the previous CEO;
• Alleged maladministration, financial misconduct, and governance breakdown in the disbursements of funds allocated to the GGB’s Socio-Economic Development Department
If Premier Lesufi is serious about running a transparent government, he would take the allegations made by the employees of the GGB seriously and institute an urgent investigation.
Furthermore, it was found by SkX that there was indeed financial misconduct, maladministration, and irregularity at the GGB. The recommendations made in this report must be implemented immediately.
The DA will also be tabling further questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to determine what steps have been taken since this letter was sent to Premier Lesufi last month.