Kenya, Aug. 6 -- Tebogo Malaka, the suspended CEO of South Africa's Independent Development Trust (IDT), and her spokesperson Phasha Makgolane allegedly offered investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh KSh429,690 in cash to suppress a story exposing irregularities in a Ksh6 Billion oxygen plant tender, according to a Daily Maverick video investigation published today.
The bribe attempt, captured on hidden camera at a Johannesburg restaurant, has intensified scrutiny of Malaka, who was placed on precautionary suspension on August 1 following a PwC forensic report recommending disciplinary action for procurement failures.
Myburgh, known for exposes on state corruption, rejected the offer, leading to the footage's release.
The IDT CEO bribe attempt unfolded in a Johannesburg restaurant, where Malaka and Makgolane met Myburgh under the pretense of discussing his investigation into the Ksh6 Billion pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant tender, intended to supply 55 state hospitals.
Myburgh's October 2024 Daily Maverick reports revealed that Bulkeng, a contractor awarded Ksh3 Billion, lacked South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) certification and used a fraudulent license, prompting a PwC probe.
The video, shows Makgolane offering an envelope containing Sh429690 to "make the story go away." Myburgh's refusal and subsequent publication have fueled public outrage, with X users like citizens demanding criminal charges.
Tebogo Malaka's suspension on August 1, 2025, followed a PwC forensic report exposing governance failures in the oxygen plant tender, as announced by Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson.
The report criticized Malaka for failing to verify documentation, ignoring Department of Health red flags, and not convening risk committees, costing taxpayers millions.
Malaka, appointed IDT CEO in 2021, also faces scrutiny over Ksh236 million paid to D Molefi Logistics, a company linked to her alleged sister-in-law, between 2011 and 2017. The IDT board, now led by Zimbini Hill, cited the suspension as necessary for an "unhindered" investigation, with deputy director-general Carmen-Joy Abrahams acting as CEO.
The Ksh 6 Billion tender irregularities stem from a project initially budgeted at Ksh15.Billion by the Global Fund to install PSA oxygen plants. The cost ballooned to Ksh 6 Billion, with Bulkeng, a "ghost company" lacking a verifiable address or SAHPRA accreditation, securing Ksh 3 Billion, per Daily Maverick and amaBhungane reports.
A joint venture between Maziya General Trading and On Site Gas Systems International, awarded Ksh1.1 Billion, also raised concerns. The PwC investigation, launched in January 2025, found forged documents, including a SAHPRA license misused from Atlas Copco, and no credible explanation for cost escalations from Ksh258 Million to Ksh75 Million per site. The report has been handed to the Hawks for criminal investigation.
Pieter-Louis Myburgh's investigation into the IDT began in October 2024, exposing Bulkeng's lack of credentials and triggering public and ministerial action. Myburgh, a Daily Maverick journalist and author of Gangster State, has a history of uncovering corruption, including the Gupta family's state capture.
His refusal of the Sh429690, captured on video, shows his commitment to transparency. The footage, described as "damning", shows Malaka and Makgolane's attempt to derail his reporting, which also linked Malaka to payments to her family's company, D Molefi Logistics. Myburgh's work prompted Macpherson to praise investigative journalism as a national asset.
South Africa's corruption scandals, including the IDT case, reflect systemic governance issues. The PwC report highlighted the IDT's lack of a quorate board and absent Audit and Risk Committee during the tender process, enabling fraud.
Malaka's alleged family ties to D Molefi Logistics, which received Ksh236 million for school projects, and her Ksh157 million asset splurge, including a Porsche Cayenne and cash-bought properties, have raised calls for lifestyle audits.
The Hawks are investigating, with Macpherson briefing the Health Minister and redirecting the project to the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Public sentiment on X demands accountability, citing parallels with other high-profile cases like City Power's Ksh3.5 bllion fraud probe.
The IDT scandal, amplified by Myburgh's video evidence, shows the need for robust anti-corruption measures in South Africa. As Kenya faces its own governance challenges with the Hustler Fund's 68% default rate, the global spotlight on public sector integrity highlights the urgency of accountability.
With Malaka's disciplinary process underway and the Hawks probing potential criminal charges, the case could reshape South Africa's approach to public procurement and trust in state institutions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.