In what can only be described as a brazen and audacious act of attempted corruption, Magogodi Elizabeth Tebogo Malaka, the suspended CEO of a key government entity and her spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, have been caught on camera allegedly offering a journalist a substantial cash bribe. The incident, meticulously documented by Daily Maverick’s Pieter-Louis Myburgh, marks a dramatic turn in a long-running investigation into the Independent Development Trust (IDT) and its leadership.
For those unfamiliar with the IDT, it is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for managing billions of rand in public funds annually, channeled into social infrastructure projects like schools, clinics, and community centers. It acts as an implementing agent for government departments, particularly in delivering crucial services to underserved communities. In short, it is a body meant to uplift the lives of ordinary South Africans, yet our investigation has exposed a web of alleged misconduct and a culture of impunity at the highest level.
The saga began to unfold in October 2024, when our initial reports raised questions about an R836 million tender for life-saving oxygen plants destined for state hospitals. We revealed that a significant portion of this contract was awarded to a “ghost company” that lacked the necessary certifications and experience. These revelations, which were followed by a joint investigation with our colleagues at amaBhungane, prompted the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to commission a forensic audit by PwC.
The final PwC report, delivered in late July 2025, was damning. It confirmed widespread maladministration, fraud, and a blatant disregard for procurement regulations. The report directly recommended disciplinary action against the IDT’s CEO, Tebogo Malaka, for failing in her duty to prevent and act on these violations. In response, on August 1, 2025, Malaka was placed on precautionary suspension.
But the story did not end there. In a stunning development on Sunday, August 3, 2025, our investigative journalist, Pieter-Louis Myburgh, met with Malaka and the IDT’s spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, at a restaurant on a well-known wine farm near Stellenbosch. This meeting was the culmination of weeks of careful planning after Makgolane first approached Myburgh in early June. During that initial contact, Makgolane suggested that they wanted to discuss “mutual matters” and that his boss, Malaka, was keen to “settle” the issue of an ongoing investigation into her property dealings. In the August 3 meeting, which was secretly recorded, the two officials allegedly offered Myburgh R60,000 in cash, delivered in a white Dior shopping bag, to “close” the ongoing investigation into her property dealings and links to an IDT contractor. They also reportedly promised further cash payments and influence over lucrative IDT tenders. The journalist rejected the bribe, and the interaction, complete with video footage, is now public. Myburgh took photos of the cash and then returned the money, before leaving the meeting.
This timeline details Malaka’s career and the critical events that have led to this point:
- 1993-2001: Tebogo Malaka begins her career in the public sector as a Programme Manager at the Department of Social Development.
- 2001-2009: She moves to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, where she holds various positions, eventually being appointed as a Director.
- 2009-2018: Malaka serves as a Regional General Manager for the IDT. During this time, the IDT paid over R33 million to a company directed by her alleged sister-in-law, for projects in the regions she oversaw. Malaka’s maiden name, Molekwa, is the same as the husband of the company’s director, and they are co-trustees of a family trust.
- 2016: She obtains a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from MANCOSA and a short course in Public, Private Partnerships in Infrastructure from the University of Queensland in Australia. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2018-2020: She serves as CEO of One Voltage Electrical Distributors.
- July 3, 2024: Malaka is appointed as the permanent CEO of the IDT.
- October 2024: Daily Maverick begins its investigation into the IDT’s R836 million oxygen plants scandal.
- November 2024: An anti-corruption unit begins a “deeper investigation” into the IDT.
- August 1, 2025: Following the damning PwC report, Malaka is placed on precautionary suspension.
- August 3, 2025: Malaka and Makgolane meet with a Daily Maverick journalist near Stellenbosch and allegedly offer a R60,000 cash bribe.
Information on Phasha Makgolane’s career is limited in the provided context. What is known is that he is the spokesperson for the Independent Development Trust (IDT). He was present at the meeting in which the alleged bribe was offered to the Daily Maverick journalist, Pieter-Louis Myburgh. The meeting was the culmination of contact that began in early June, when Makgolane first approached Myburgh to discuss “mutual matters.” Makgolane’s title is also sometimes listed as “Communications and Marketing Specialist.”
Based on the available information, the exact date when Phasha Makgolane joined the IDT is not mentioned. However, he is identified as the IDT’s spokesperson and was involved in communications regarding the organization’s activities as far back as July 2025. It’s also known that he initiated contact with the Daily Maverick journalist in early June 2025, suggesting he was in his role at the IDT at that time.
A timeline of the IDT’s history provides important context for its current state:
- 1990: The IDT is established as a civil society organization with a R2 billion grant from the government, with a focus on implementing socio-economic development initiatives.
- 1997: A Cabinet resolution is passed, changing the IDT’s status from a grant-funding and civil society-based institution to a government support agency.
- 1999: The IDT is reclassified as a Schedule 2 Public Entity under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and its focus shifts to social infrastructure.
- 2001: The Trust Deed is amended to redefine the relationship between the IDT and the government, solidifying its role as an agency that manages and implements government development programs.
- 2021: A new board is appointed to stabilize and revive the entity after a period of uncertainty and discussions about its dissolution.
Some of the individuals who have held this position at the IDt, either in a permanent or acting capacity include:
- Magogodi Elizabeth Tebogo Malaka: Appointed as the permanent CEO in July 2024. She had previously served as the acting CEO.
- Carmen-Joy Abrahams: Served as the acting CEO from August 2025, after being seconded by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
- Coceko Phakade: Mentioned as the CEO in a Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) meeting in October 2016.
- An unnamed CEO was suspended by a previous Chairperson of the board for attempting to investigate corruption allegations, as mentioned in a November 2018 PMG meeting. This highlights the long-standing governance issues at the IDT.
This latest revelation is just the beginning. Daily Maverick’s next planned exposé will be the first installment of a months-long investigation into Malaka’s property dealings and the alleged links to an IDT contractor that were the subject of the bribery attempt. The public can expect further details on these matters next week.
