By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson has opened a criminal case at the Cape Town Police Station against suspended IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka and entity spokesperson Phasha Makgolane.
This comes after footage emerged showing both IDT execs trying to bribe investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh with R60 000 to suppress a corruption exposé.
Addressing the media outside the police station on Wednesday, Macpherson said about the footage, “It made me sick to my stomach and left me in disbelief.”
He emphasised his personal commitment to combating wrongdoing, saying he would “personally open cases against those accused of criminality because I must lead from the front”.
The charges include corruption, bribery, collusion and multiple breaches of fiduciary duties under the Public Finance Management Act. His affidavit cites sections 3, 4, 12, 13 and 20 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and calls for a broader investigation into other possible crimes stemming from the incident.
The minister describes the actions of Malaka and Makgolane as “an assault on the institutional framework of government” and “an attack on not only the free press but on our democracy”.
He added that Makgolane, as the IDT spokesperson, had knowledge of the scheme but failed to disclose it, despite an obligation to do so.
The minister has formally requested that the case be transferred to the Hawks and treated with urgency.
Macpherson detailed the conditions of her suspension, saying: “There are conditions that were attached to her suspension. One of those was that she may not leave Gauteng without permission of the board and that she may not speak to anyone from the IDT.
“I think it’s safe to assume that those two [conditions] may have already been violated by her being here (Cape Town) the day after with an official from the IDT.”
The bribery attempt, involving Malaka and Makgolane, took place at a wine farm near Stellenbosch.
A PwC forensics report, released to the department and the Hawks last week (but not yet publicly available), confirmed that the IDT awarded contracts to unlicensed companies and recommended disciplinary action against Malaka for procurement irregularities, missing documentation and a deliberate disregard for the process.
Lerato Modisana, spokesperson for the IDT, said: “the IDT Board is actively considering the matters raised in the recent media coverage. We fully acknowledge the seriousness of these allegations and the heightened public interest they have generated.”
“At this point in time, there are no additional developments we can share publicly. Once the Board has concluded its internal processes and is in a position to report on verified outcomes, a formal communication will be issued and we will ensure that all relevant stakeholders, including the media, are informed when the time is right.”
Macpherson believes this case is not isolated and forms part of a larger scheme involving political networks, pointing to what he called a “well-paid and well-organised” campaign to shield criminal actors from scrutiny and undermine institutional accountability.