Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa has, with immediate effect, terminated the contract of Dr Karabo Mbele, the CEO of the Gauteng Gambling Board, following the release of a forensic investigation that uncovered serious allegations of corruption, financial misconduct and governance failures within the entity.
Speaking during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday, Ramokgopa said the Gauteng Gambling Board had become the subject of multiple whistleblower complaints and an independent forensic investigation that exposed widespread maladministration and abuse of public resources.
The MEC confirmed that the final forensic report, compiled by an independent legal team led by Advocate William Mokhare SC, implicated Mbele in what she described as “serious governance failures and gross misconduct.”
According to the report, Mbele allegedly interfered in funding adjudication processes, approved funding before governance procedures had been completed, authorised payments without supporting documentation and failed to comply with oversight and governance obligations.
Ramokgopa said she had acted on the report’s recommendations and terminated Mbele’s employment contract with immediate effect.
The investigation also implicated Chief Financial Officer Oscar Maripane, who has now been suspended pending an internal disciplinary process.
The report accused Maripane of failures in financial governance, procurement irregularities, non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and breakdowns in internal financial controls and statutory reporting systems.
Ramokgopa described the findings as deeply concerning and said they 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 currently operating without a fully constituted board after several board members resigned in December 2025. She said the provincial government will appoint an administrator while a new board appointment process is underway.
Ramokgopa emphasised that rebuilding governance and restoring integrity across provincial economic entities had become a priority for the department.
She said more than 2,000 applications had already been received for 48 available board positions across key provincial entities, including the Gauteng Gambling Board, Gauteng Liquor Board and Gauteng Tourism Authority.
The MEC also highlighted broader economic priorities for the province, including a target of achieving 3% GDP growth by 2030, creating 300,000 sustainable jobs and strengthening governance across institutions entrusted with public resources.
She said the province had already secured more than R205 billion in investment pledges during the second Gauteng Investment Conference and was now focused on implementation through industry action plans and partnerships between government and the private sector.
Ramokgopa praised whistleblowers who exposed wrongdoing within the institution, saying corruption and maladministration would no longer be tolerated under the current administration.
“The fight against corruption will no longer be fought by whistleblowers alone. We are joining that fight decisively and unapologetically,” she said.
