Durban — Following the ongoing investigations and purging of mainly black executives and officials at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said it was not targeting individuals.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, in response to the ongoing drama at the multibillion-rand commission, said: “We do not investigate people, we investigate processes and we find people and companies during the investigations. This is part of our investigation into the NLC under proclamation R.32 of 2020.”
Kganyago declined to give details on the status of the investigations being conducted by his unit at the commission, stating that the investigation was continuing and the SIU could not provide a “running commentary”.
“We only communicate when there are outcomes,” he said.
Commissioner Thabang Mampane cut ties with the commission when she tendered her resignation to the board on Monday and alleged that there was an “acrimonious and supine posture adopted by the current minister, which has posed serious challenges in the effective and efficient management of the commission”.
Mampane mentioned that she navigated the difficult terrain of leading the commission and ensuring above-average performance in the delivery of the commission’s mandate amid political interference.
Furthermore, she alleged that there were journalists working with certain board members at the commission and, in return, these journalists had received funding from the commission.
In a letter dated July 6, board member Beryl Ferguson wrote on behalf of the board to chief operating officer Philemon Letwaba, informing him of an investigation led by the SIU into allegations that he and his immediate family members had accepted financial benefits from businesses that had received grants from the commission.
However, a disciplinary hearing instituted by the NLC and led by advocate Chris Erasmus SC found no evidence of wrongdoing and acquitted Letwaba of all charges.
Ferguson indicated that the board was considering placing him on precautionary suspension as the board believed allowing him to remain in the role might “endanger and/or compromise the board’s property”.
Contacted for comment, Ferguson said that she could not comment on the ongoing conflicts at the commission as she was not authorised to share information with the media.
Daily News