Gauteng Gambling Board CEO fired, CFO suspended

By Charmaine Ndlela

Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa has fired Gauteng Gambling Board CEO Dr Karabo Mbele with immediate effect following a forensic investigation into allegations of corruption, financial misconduct, and governance failures within the entity.

Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, Ramokgopa said the forensic report, compiled by an independent legal team led by Advocate William Mokhare SC, found that Mbele allegedly interfered in funding adjudication processes, approved funding before governance procedures were concluded, authorised payments without supporting documentation, and failed to comply with governance and oversight obligations.

Ramokgopa described the findings in the final forensic report as evidence of “serious governance failures and gross misconduct”.

The report also implicated chief financial officer Oscar Maripane in procurement irregularities, failures in financial governance, non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and breakdowns in internal controls and statutory reporting obligations.