The Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has resigned “with immediate effect” simply weeks earlier than her time period expires on the finish of September. This is based on a number of sources.
Thabang Charlotte Mampane served 10 years as Commissioner — successfully chief government officer of the NLC. Her first 5-12 months contract was prolonged in September 2017.
The NLC has been overwhelmed with corruption over the previous few years. GroundUp has uncovered a whole bunch of tens of millions of rands of misspent Lottery funding on Mampane’s watch, and what we’ve got reported is probably going the tip of the iceberg.
Her resignation comes simply over two weeks after GroundUp revealed that Lottery funding meant to construct a Limpopo college razed by fireplace throughout a protest, had been used to pay for her luxurious house in a golf property.
The home, within the upmarket Pecanwood Estate, which abuts Hartebeespoort Dam in North West Province, is registered within the title of a belief through which Mampane and her husband, Samuel, are each trustees. The couple and their two grownup kids are all beneficiaries of the belief.
Mampane’s home is one of several that GroundUp has revealed was purchased with Lottery grants meant to go to fund good causes, particularly in rural and marginalised communities.
Read: SIU freezes mansion of former lottery chair
Mampane, who last year earned R4.5-million, went on go away on the identical day that the GroundUp story was revealed.
We perceive that Mampane was to face disciplinary motion in reference to using Lottery cash to buy her home. It’s unclear what the impact of her sudden resignation shall be on this course of.
Thendo Ramagoma, the previous deputy of the NLC’s Arts and Culture distributing company and present authorized government, has been performing as Commissioner since Mampane went on go away two weeks in the past.
The buy of the home is below investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which has been probing corruption involving Lottery funds ever since President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation in October 2020 authorising the investigation.
Mampane was not too long ago referred to as in by the SIU to reply questions in regards to the 2016 buy of the home for R3.6-million. Just a few weeks afterward GroundUp, which had been investigating the home buy since receiving a tip-off final 12 months, revealed its story.
Mampane’s belief owns a home on the Pecanwood golf property, purchased with cash from the nationwide lottery. Photo from the Pecanwood web site: https://pecanwood.co.za, revealed as truthful use
Under Mampane, the NLC’s relationship with Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel, who has oversight of the lottery, has been adversarial and marked with litigation (see here and here). Communication between the minister and the NLC was largely decreased to writing, usually within the type of legal professionals’ letters.
Read:
This will not be the primary time that Mampane has resigned from a excessive-powered job. In 2010, she resigned as performing chief operations officer of the SABC, after she was caught on CCTV digicam eavesdropping on a board meeting the place her efficiency was being mentioned.
It adopted the SABC board’s dismal efficiency earlier than Scopa (Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts) the earlier month. After the Scopa listening to, Mampane got here below strain to surrender her submit, however she retained her nicely-paid job as a bunch government within the workplace of the CEO.
In 2012, she obtained a “golden handshake” of R4.3-million from the SABC to prematurely terminate her contract. She joined the NLC as Commissioner shortly afterwards.
Mampane didn’t reply to a request for remark about her resignation, despatched to her through WhatsApp and Signal.
NLC spokesperson Ndivhuho Mafela mentioned he was not conscious of Mampane’s resignation and was making an attempt to confirm it. Reminded of the deadline within the authentic request, he mentioned he needed to “follow protocols”.
UPDATE:
The NLC issued a quick assertion on Tuesday (16 August) confirming Mampane’s resignation.
“The Board acknowledges the resignation of Ms TCC Mampane from her position as Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission, effective 15 August 2022 and [is] considering the letter of resignation,” it learn.
“The process of the appointment of the new Commissioner is well underway. The Board ensures the efficient and effective operation of the Commission, while processes are underway,” it added.
This article was first revealed on GroundUp here.
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