Note to Broadcaster: Please find the attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Jóhni Steenkamp.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the sentencing of former North West Development Corporation (NWDC) Chief Financial Officer, Kudakwashe Mpofu, who was found guilty of submitting a fraudulent permanent residence permit when applying for and securing the post.
Fraud at such a senior level of public administration cannot be treated lightly. This was not a minor administrative error it was a deliberate act of deception that enabled an unqualified individual to manage public funds.
Moreover, Mpofu did not appoint himself. His fraudulent appointment exposes a serious failure within the NWDC’s governance and vetting processes. Someone in authority oversaw and approved his employment without conducting the necessary due diligence. That individual or individuals remain somewhere within the system, possibly still involved in the administration of public appointments. The DA demands that this person be identified and held accountable.
Earlier this year, the DA called on the MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism to disclose the vetting and verification processes for all board members and senior management across provincial state-owned entities. To date, the Department has failed to respond to that call. This silence speaks volumes about the culture of complacency and lack of transparency that continues to enable fraud and mismanagement.
The DA once again calls for an immediate, comprehensive audit of all senior appointments across the Department and its entities, including the NWDC, to verify the authenticity of qualifications, identity documents, and residency status. Those responsible for negligence or complicity in this case must face disciplinary and, where applicable, criminal consequences.
The people of the North West deserve institutions led by competent, honest, and properly vetted professionals. Anything less is a betrayal of public trust. The DA will continue to fight for clean governance and full accountability in every provincial entity entrusted with public funds.