By REGINALD KANYANE
18 February 2025- The North West Gambling Board said it has launched an investigation into the disappearance of tender documents related to the appointment of a service provider from its Head Office in Mahikeng. The board said the incident has prompted a criminal investigation and the precautionary suspension of two employees.
The North West Gambling Board acting Corporate Relations Manager, Lerato Mokgoje said missing documents contained tender bids from various service providers to provide services to the Board. Mokgoje said these bids were stored in four boxes within a walk-in safe of which two of the boxes were removed.
“The Board believes that individuals accessed the safe and removed the documents without management approval or knowledge. Upon discovering that the documents were missing during the annual audit conducted by Auditor General (AG), the Board swiftly reported the incident to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and filed a criminal case of theft at the Mahikeng Police Station in July 2024.
“It is suspected that the documents were removed from the premises during the last quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year. In a proactive measure to assist the investigation, all employees and management voluntarily participated in polygraph tests,” she said.
Mokgoje further said the accounting authority of the Board, Boitumelo Qalinge, emphasizes that misconduct of such nature cannot be tolerated from those employed to serve the citizens of the North West and the country at large. She added that, the North West Gambling Board has zero tolerance towards corruption, gross misconduct and criminal acts.
“The Board commended the South African Police Services (SAPS) for their rapid and efficient response to the matter. As a direct result of the combined efforts of management, employees and the police, two employees have been placed on precautionary suspension pending further investigation.
“Criminal charges are expected to be filed against individuals identified as primary suspects in the case. The investigation is ongoing, and the North West Gambling Board is committed to fully cooperating with the SAPS to bring those responsible to justice,” said Mokgoje.
She said the Board assures the public that it is taking all necessary steps to ensure the integrity of its procurement processes and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Mokgoje said the incident underscores the importance of robust security measures and internal controls within public institutions to safeguard sensitive information and maintain public trust.
“The Board reiterates its commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards and serving the people of the North West with integrity and transparency,” she said.
The Guardian 