The AG has outright denied claims implicating Free State officials, including regional head Nthako Saohatsi, in what ActionSA describes as a “deliberate manipulation of audit processes”.

ActionSA Free State chairperson Patricia Kopane said her party is in possession of hard copy evidence and has received multiple whistleblower accounts supporting the allegations. 

“The AG has not confirmed whether a decision was taken to investigate the matter, what methodology or standards were applied to assess the credibility of the allegations, the outcome of any internal review or special audit, if conducted, and whether any findings or recommendations were made available to the public.”

Despite AG spokesperson Africa Boso confirming that an internal inquiry was undertaken last year after the allegations surfaced on social media, including quality assurance reviews and consultations with Centlec and Mangaung Metro, ActionSA remains unsatisfied with the lack of transparency.

Kopane said the AG’s handling of the situation reveals a concerning absence of procedural openness, especially when faced with credible whistleblower accounts.

“The lack of procedural transparency, even in the face of credible whistleblower inputs and documentary evidence, raises further concerns about accountability within institutions tasked with safeguarding public finances,” she said.

ActionSA demanded that the AG:

• publicly confirm whether any investigation or special audit into Centlec was conducted;
• release a formal report or summary outlining the methodology, process, and findings; and
• clarify on what basis the allegations were deemed “false and baseless”.

Kopane also raised alarm about an incident involving controversial Centlec CEO Malefane Sekoboto, who allegedly attempted to oust the utility’s spokesperson, Lele Mamatu, by presenting him with a forged resignation letter typed after the allegation of manipulated reports surfaced.

“Reports indicate that … Sekoboto tried to coerce … Mamatu into signing this falsified letter, an act that suggests panic at the highest levels of the utility. It is important to clarify that … Mamatu did not leak any information to ActionSA.

“However, this incident confirms what we have long asserted: there is indeed damning information within Centlec that powerful individuals are desperately trying to conceal.”

Kopane said the actions of Centlec leadership indicate a pattern of silencing those who may possess damaging knowledge.

Mamatu himself had confirmed that he had been ambushed with a fake resignation letter by Sekoboto during a procurement meeting. He insisted that he had never submitted such a letter and was denied entry to the Centlec premises on Monday (9/6) without being formally dismissed.

Mamatu has since indicated he will pursue legal action against the utility.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh