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IDT CEO Accused of Bribery Was “Set Up,” Claims Family Trust

Published

2 months ago

August 8, 2025

Chiraag

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South Africans are no strangers to allegations of corruption in high places. But the latest storm surrounding Independent Development Trust (IDT) CEO Tebogo Malaka has taken a sharply political turn, with her family now claiming she was framed.

A viral video clip that surfaced last week appears to show Malaka and IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane offering R60 000 to investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh, allegedly in exchange for burying a corruption exposé.

The fallout was swift. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson opened a criminal case against Malaka and Makgolane at the Cape Town Police Station, telling reporters that the video made him “sick to [his] stomach.”

“It’s one thing to hear about corruption,” Macpherson said. “It’s another to see it take place so blatantly and with a feeling of impunity.”

But the Malaka Family Trust says the entire encounter was a trap and that Malaka is being used as a political scapegoat.

“She didn’t offer a bribe. She was set up.”

In a strongly worded statement, the Malaka Family Trust claimed the video was not only misleading but deliberately manipulated to destroy her reputation.

“Ms Malaka did not offer a bribe, did not suggest one, and did not take out or authorise any money,” the statement said. “The cash in question was produced by the IDT spokesperson, not Ms Malaka.”

According to the Trust, Malaka didn’t arrange the meeting, didn’t know the journalist beforehand, and had no knowledge of the camera setup.

“This was a trap,” they alleged. “Who installed the hidden cameras, and under whose authority? Was it even legal? These are the real questions South Africans should be asking.”

Political tensions at the heart of the scandal?

The Trust says this controversy should be seen in the context of a broader power struggle between Malaka and Minister Macpherson. Her refusal to “submit to political pressure” and her alleged clashes with the minister over board and administrative decisions, they argue, made her a target.

“It is no coincidence that this manufactured scandal emerges in the midst of that power struggle,” the statement said.

They also claim that the relationship between the journalist and the Minister warrants scrutiny. “Allegations of coordination between the journalist and the Minister must now be taken seriously,” the Trust said, pointing to concerns raised by political parties and civil society organisations.

Demands for transparency and accountability

In response to the video and criminal charges, the Trust is calling for:

The full, unedited release of the footage
Disclosure of all communications between the journalist and IDT officials
An independent inquiry into alleged political interference and media collusion
A full investigation into who installed the cameras and under what legal authority

“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,” the Trust argued. “Edited video and innuendo are not evidence. They are tactics of defamation.”

Public reaction and what comes next

Online, the video has sparked divided opinions. Some South Africans are outraged, saying the footage is damning. Others are wary of how easily video evidence can be edited, weaponised, or misinterpreted, especially in politically charged environments.

With tensions between Malaka and government officials already simmering, this case now risks becoming a legal and political powder keg.

As investigations continue, one thing remains clear: Malaka’s future at the IDT, and possibly in public service more broadly, hangs in the balance.

For now, her family insists she is not guilty of corruption. They say she is guilty of one thing only: standing her ground.