Macpherson lays criminal complaint against Malaka over failed 'bribe'
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has lodged a criminal complaint against the suspended Independent Development Trust chief executive officer Tebogo Malaka, and her spokesperson in Cape Town.
The minister addressed the media outside the Cape Town Central police station on Thursday afternoon.
Macpherson held an urgent meeting with the entity's board following the release of a widely shared video of Malaka and her spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, allegedly attempting to bribe Daily Maverick investigative reporter Pieter-Louis Myburgh.
Myburgh has published a series of reports uncovering alleged malfeasance at the IDT, which places Malaka at the centre of an irregular oxygen plant tender valued at more than R800 million.
READ: Macpherson to address suspended IDT CEO's bribery allegations
The minister said he intends to get the police to urgently investigate the attempted bribery of journalists, the use of social media bot campaigns, and any other possible acts of corruption and bribery linked to Malaka.
"I've urged the SAPS to uncover the full extent to which the tentacles of corruption have reached. The allegations before the SAPS now are that Ms Malaka and the spokesperson were directly, or indirectly, involved in the attempt to hand over R60,000 in cash to Mr Pieter-Louis Myburgh to buy his silence."
As the Minister responsible for the IDT, I laid criminal charges against suspended IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka and spokesperson Phasha Makgolane, following the alleged bribery video that we all witnessed yesterday.
— Dean Macpherson MP (@DeanMacpherson) August 7, 2025
I will not allow corruption and intimidation to go unchecked in Public… pic.twitter.com/OWgZq2T7qE
In his meeting with the board, Macpherson also requested that the board investigate all contracts issued under Malaka, review the contractors involved, and uncover any additional allegations of corruption, with a clear focus on tracking the money flows and understanding the extent of the wrongdoing.
“Like the rest of South Africa, I am sickened by the allegations reported by Daily Maverick yesterday. How is it possible for any official to carry around R60,000 in cash - and even imply that government contracts could be offered in exchange for silence? While we have worked to clean up the IDT – at great personal cost, facing falsified voice notes, fabricated news articles, and a coordinated social media campaign – I remain resolute in my mission to restore the IDT to play its important role in society."
Macpherson also dismissed recent social media claims that the exposé on the bribery scandal involving Malaka was orchestrated.
"I have personally been the target of coordinated disinformation campaigns, including fabricated voice notes, false call logs, and WhatsApps which - and it doesn't surprise me - are circulating again this morning to try and suggest that Ms Malaka is a victim."
The minister has vowed to continue efforts to clean up his department, which has been plagued by allegations of maladministration, corruption, and challenges with the construction mafia delaying major infrastructure projects.
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