MEDIA STATEMENT
Public Interest SA Calls for the Immediate Removal of Dondo Mogajane from the Government Employees Pension Fund
Johannesburg, Sunday, July 12, 2024 – Public Interest SA expresses deep concern over the troubling allegations made by jailed former VBS Mutual Bank chairperson Tshifhiwa Matodzi against former National Treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane. According to a leaked affidavit deposed with the National Prosecuting Authority, Matodzi accuses Mogajane of serious misconduct, including the acceptance of a R1-million bribe. Despite these damning allegations, Mogajane continues to serve as chairperson of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF).
It is unconscionable that Mogajane, who is now employed as group chief executive officer of the controversial Moti Group, remains at the helm of South Africa’s largest pension fund. In 2018, the Public Protector found Mogajane to have "blatantly and dishonestly made false representations of material facts (non-disclosure of his criminal conviction) when applying for the post of DG at National Treasury." Such findings raise significant concerns about his moral compass and ethical conduct.
While we acknowledge Mogajane’s protestations against these allegations of egregious wrongdoing, Public Interest SA believes that the GEPF board must act decisively to maintain trust in the institution. The board must take action against Mogajane, if only based on the findings of the Public Protector and considering the gravity of the allegations by Matodzi.
Public Interest SA calls upon Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, under whose authority the GEPF board operates, to relieve Mogajane of his role at this critical institution. Failure to do so could contribute to South Africa’s continued greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). “Lest we forget, South Africa has an arduous task addressing all the action items in the Action Plan agreed to with the FATF in order to be de-greylisted,” says Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA.
Public Interest SA is concerned that while South Africa, through the National Treasury, is on track to address all outstanding Action Items by February 2025, it remains a challenging task to do so without a demonstrable commitment to rid government institutions of venal functionaries.
END
For more information, please contact:
Bagaetsho Oteng
Media & Communications
About Public Interest SA
Public Interest SA is dedicated to promoting ethical governance and accountability in South Africa. We advocate for transparency, integrity, and justice in public institutions to ensure a better future for all South Africans.
---