'She was set up' -Malaka Family Trust defends IDT CEO in bribery allegations

The Malaka Family Trust has dismissed the allegations against IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka saying it is a politically motivated campaign aimed at removing her from the Independent Development Trust (IDT).

Malaka and the IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane allegedly attempted to bribe investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh with R60,000 to suppress a corruption exposé.

On Thursday, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson opened a criminal case at the Cape Town Police Station. This follows the release of a video that appears to show Malaka and Makgolane offering a bribe to Myburgh.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Macpherson said, “Watching the video of Ms Malaka allegedly offering Mr Myburgh a bribe of R60,000 made me sick to my stomach and left me in disbelief. It’s one thing to hear about corruption. It’s another to see it take place so blatantly and with a feeling of impunity.”

He went on to describe the incident as “not just a criminal act but an assault on the institutional framework of government to provide services to the people of South Africa, especially in the social infrastructure space that the IDT is responsible for.”

In a statement, the Trust expressed full support for Malaka, asserting that “these attacks are not grounded in truth,” and form part of “an orchestrated attempt to damage her reputation.”

“Let us be clear. 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 the IDT spokesperson, not Ms. Malaka. She did not invite the journalist, did not know him before the meeting, and did not select the venue or arrange the setup,” the statement reads.

The Trust described the incident involving hidden cameras as “a trap engineered by others and designed to entrap her,” questioning the legality and ethics of the recording.

“Which raises the most critical, unanswered question: Who set up the hidden cameras, and why? The public deserves to know who orchestrated this recording and whether it was done legally, ethically, or as part of a political operation.”

Dismissing the allegations as baseless, the Trust said: “In law, there is no such offence as ‘intending to bribe,’ especially when no offer was made, no agreement was reached, and no money changed hands. Edited video and innuendo are not evidence. They are tactics of defamation.”

The Trust further claimed Malaka is being targeted for resisting political interference, particularly in her reported clashes with Minister Macpherson.

“Ms. Malaka’s real offence, it seems, was her refusal to submit to political pressure. Her clashes with Minister Dean Macpherson, including board disruptions and administrative interference, are well documented. It is no coincidence that this manufactured scandal emerges in the midst of that power struggle.”

Allegations that the journalist involved may have coordinated with the Minister have also been raised by the Trust. 

''Allegations of coordination between the journalist and the Minister must now be taken seriously. These claims, raised by civil society and multiple political parties, require immediate and independent investigation."

The Malaka Family Trust has issued several demands in response to the controversy, calling for the “full, unedited release of the video footage,” the “disclosure of all communications between the journalist and IDT officials,” an “independent inquiry into political interference and media collusion,” and a “full investigation into who installed the cameras and under what authority.”

“Ms. Malaka is being vilified not for wrongdoing, but for standing her ground. She deserves due process, not public trial by edited video and political theatre,'' the Trust said. 

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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