In a public statement issued by the Malaka Family Trust, Tebogo Malaka addresses the “ongoing defamation and orchestrated attacks against her”. The statement, released “for immediate release” from Johannesburg on August 7, 2025, serves as a forceful rebuttal to allegations of bribery. The Malaka Family Trust alleges that these claims, published by the Daily Maverick and other sources, are part of a politically motivated campaign to remove her from the Independent Development Trust (IDT). The document asserts that the accusations are baseless and that the scandal is a manufactured consequence of her refusal to succumb to political pressure and her clashes with Minister Dean Macpherson. The trust calls for an immediate and independent investigation, demanding the release of unedited footage and the full disclosure of communications between all parties involved.
Main Argument:
- She denies offering a bribe: The statement asserts that Ms. Malaka “did not offer a bribe, did not suggest one, and did not take out or authorise any money.” The cash in question was produced by an IDT spokesperson, not by her.
- She claims she was entrapped: The statement describes the situation as a “trap — engineered by others and designed to entrap her.” It questions who set up the hidden cameras and recorded the interaction.
- There is no crime of “intention to bribe”: The document argues that there is no such offense as “intending” to bribe, especially when no offer was made and no money changed hands. It claims that the edited video and insinuations are tactics of defamation.
- She alleges political interference: The statement suggests that Ms. Malaka’s refusal to “submit to political pressure” and her clashes with “Minister Dean Macpherson” are the real reasons for the manufactured scandal. It states that these clashes and board disruptions are “well documented.”
Demands for an Investigation:
The Malaka Family Trust is calling for an immediate and independent investigation into the matter. Specifically, they demand:
- The full, unedited video footage to be released.
- Disclosure of all communications between the journalist and IDT officials.
- An independent inquiry into “political interference and media collusion.”
- A full investigation into who installed the cameras and under what authority.
Conclusion:
The statement concludes by saying that Ms. Malaka is “being vilified not for wrongdoing, but for standing her ground.” It calls on all South Africans to “defend truth, fairness, and institutional integrity.”
