Journalist sting exposes bribe attempt
There is a selfish tendency among journalists not to acknowledge the good work done by their colleagues in other media organisations.
We cannot, however, do that when it comes to the brave reporting by Pieter-Louis Myburgh and the Daily Maverick – after they allegedly caught a government official red-handed trying to bribe him.
The sting he carried out on suspended Independent Development Trust (IDT) CEO Tebogo Malaka was carefully constructed and in the best traditions of investigative journalism.
With hidden video cameras, the Daily Maverick team filmed Malaka and IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane trying to persuade Myburgh to drop an investigation into her new, plush R12 million house in the luxury Waterfall Country Estate… and pushing over an envelope stuffed with R60 000 as the first instalment of what they clearly hoped would be a fruitful relationship.
Malaka allegedly said: 'I just want to close this chapter. It's too much. I have kids, I have parents, my parents are old, they were sick, they couldn't sleep over the last weekend. It's bad. I don't want you to be writing about it. I don't want anything, even more coming out. Let's have peace for a moment.'
ALSO READ: Macpherson breaks silence on IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka bribery attempt
Once he had got the evidence on camera and photographed the money, Myburgh left the meeting.
Now, faced with this evidence, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson plans to meet the IDT board.
We now eagerly await the back-pedalling of those who claimed that Myburgh and the Daily Maverick were on a witch-hunt to deliberately bring down a successful black woman.
There were also those like ActionSA who went further and demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa fire Macpherson, while the EFF claimed it had opened a criminal case against the minister for allegedly corruptly trying to interfere with investigations into the IDT.
Herman Mashaba and Julius Malema – what say you now?
NOW READ: Former Sassa employee jailed for corruption after bribe sting
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The Malaka Family Trust has rejected bribery allegations against IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka, calling them politically motivated and demanding an independent inquiry into hidden cameras and alleged media-political collusion. Image: Supplied The Malaka Family Trust has dismissed the allegations against IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka saying it is a politically motivated campaign aimed at removing her from the Independent Development Trust (IDT). Malaka and the IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane allegedly attempted to bribe investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh with R60,000 to suppress a corruption exposé. On Thursday, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson opened a criminal case at the Cape Town Police Station. This follows the release of a video that appears to show Malaka and Makgolane offering a bribe to Myburgh. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Macpherson said, 'Watching the video of Ms Malaka allegedly offering Mr Myburgh a bribe of R60,000 made me sick to my stomach and left me in disbelief. It's one thing to hear about corruption. It's another to see it take place so blatantly and with a feeling of impunity.' He went on to describe the incident as 'not just a criminal act but an assault on the institutional framework of government to provide services to the people of South Africa, especially in the social infrastructure space that the IDT is responsible for.' In a statement, the Trust expressed full support for Malaka, asserting that 'these attacks are not grounded in truth,' and form part of 'an orchestrated attempt to damage her reputation.' 'Let us be clear. Ms. Malaka did not offer a bribe, did not suggest one, and did not take out or authorise any money. The cash in question was produced by the IDT spokesperson, not Ms. Malaka. She did not invite the journalist, did not know him before the meeting, and did not select the venue or arrange the setup,' the statement reads. The Trust described the incident involving hidden cameras as 'a trap engineered by others and designed to entrap her,' questioning the legality and ethics of the recording. 'Which raises the most critical, unanswered question: Who set up the hidden cameras, and why? The public deserves to know who orchestrated this recording and whether it was done legally, ethically, or as part of a political operation.' Dismissing the allegations as baseless, the Trust said: 'In law, there is no such offence as 'intending to bribe,' especially when no offer was made, no agreement was reached, and no money changed hands. Edited video and innuendo are not evidence. They are tactics of defamation.' The Trust further claimed Malaka is being targeted for resisting political interference, particularly in her reported clashes with Minister Macpherson. 'Ms. Malaka's real offence, it seems, was her refusal to submit to political pressure. Her clashes with Minister Dean Macpherson, including board disruptions and administrative interference, are well documented. It is no coincidence that this manufactured scandal emerges in the midst of that power struggle.' Allegations that the journalist involved may have coordinated with the Minister have also been raised by the Trust. ''Allegations of coordination between the journalist and the Minister must now be taken seriously. These claims, raised by civil society and multiple political parties, require immediate and independent investigation." The Malaka Family Trust has issued several demands in response to the controversy, calling for the 'full, unedited release of the video footage,' the 'disclosure of all communications between the journalist and IDT officials,' an 'independent inquiry into political interference and media collusion,' and a 'full investigation into who installed the cameras and under what authority.' 'Ms. Malaka is being vilified not for wrongdoing, but for standing her ground. She deserves due process, not public trial by edited video and political theatre,'' the Trust said. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
