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.
Ramokgopa said the findings corroborated numerous anonymous whistleblower reports received since she assumed office in April.
“It became clear to me that the status quo at the Gauteng Gambling Board cannot continue,” she said.
The MEC further revealed that the Gauteng Gambling Board is operating without a fully constituted board after several members resigned in December 2025. She said the provincial government would appoint an administrator while the process to appoint a new board was under way.
Maripane has been suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary process.
Ramokgopa praised whistleblowers who exposed alleged wrongdoing within the institution, saying corruption and maladministration would no longer be tolerated.
“The fight against corruption will no longer be fought by whistleblowers alone. We are joining that fight decisively and unapologetically,” she said.
The developments follow criminal charges laid by Build One South Africa (BOSA) against Mbele relating to allegations of fraud, corruption, abuse of office and conflicts of interest linked to the administration of the Gauteng Gambling Board.
BOSA welcomed Mbele’s dismissal and Maripane’s suspension, and called on the Hawks and SAPS to conduct a full criminal investigation into the matter.
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