Pretoria: Public Works Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala addressed a media briefing on Tuesday to clarify issues surrounding the appointment of Tebogo Malaka as the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Development Trust (IDT).
According to South African Government News Agency, Zikalala expressed concern over media reports that he believes were deliberately designed to defame him under the guise of raising governance issues within the IDT. The IDT, a Schedule 2 State-owned entity, is responsible for managing and delivering essential social infrastructure programs for the government and reports directly to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Zikalala explained that by the time he took office in March 2023, the IDT Board had already processed Malaka’s appointment with approval from his predecessor, and the recommendation had been submitted to Cabinet. However, Zikalala withdrew the matter due to emerging issues within the entity and concerns over due diligence, including allegations related to the IDT’s office lease, which had been public knowledge before his tenure.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the challenges and internal conflicts he encountered upon his arrival at the department, which detracted from the IDT’s primary goal of delivering social infrastructure. Zikalala emphasized his efforts to direct the board towards fulfilling its governance and fiduciary responsibilities, despite the lack of anticipated results.
Zikalala also noted that he was the first Minister to instruct the IDT Board to investigate the office lease issue and report back within six months. He reiterated his commitment to serving with integrity, transparency, and accountability.