Activists demand immediate arrest of IDT CEO and Spokesperson over corruption allegations
An amount alleged to be a bribe to an investigative journalist
image: Daily Maverick
by Mathipa Phishego
The Activists and Citizens Forum has issued a strong call for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, to urgently arrest the CEO of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), Tebogo Malaka, and the organisation’s spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, following serious allegations of corruption.
Speaking on behalf of the Forum, spokesperson Dennis Bloem expressed concern over what he described as a troubling pattern of impunity for those in high office, where criminal charges are laid but not followed through with meaningful action.
“The Hawks must act immediately. We cannot allow a system where powerful individuals, accused of serious crimes, continue to walk free while ordinary citizens face the full wrath of the law for far lesser offences,” said Bloem.
The forum alleges that video evidence exists implicating Malaka and Makgolane in attempted bribery evidence it believes is sufficient to warrant their immediate arrest. The organisation slammed what it perceives as a double standard in the justice system, arguing that poor and politically unconnected individuals are swiftly detained for petty crimes, while well-connected suspects involved in high-level corruption often face no immediate consequences.
Bloem continued by saying that if a hungry, unemployed person is caught stealing a loaf of bread, they are arrested on the spot. “Why then are politically connected individuals who are allegedly looting public resources not being treated the same way?,” he asked.
The statement reflects growing public frustration with the state’s handling of corruption cases, many of which have been marked by prolonged investigations and little accountability. The Forum warned that the continued perception of selective justice erodes public trust in law enforcement and the legal system.
“Corruption will never end if those responsible are protected by the very system meant to hold them accountable. No one is above the law,” Bloem emphasised. The Hawks have yet to issue a response regarding the status of the investigation or whether arrests are imminent.
The IDT, a government entity tasked with implementing infrastructure projects on behalf of various departments, has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years over governance and financial mismanagement.
