Malaka Family Trust Rejects Bribery Allegations, Demands Independent Probe into 'edited video'

The Malaka Family Trust has strongly denied bribery allegations against Independent Development Trust (IDT) CEO Tebogo Malaka, calling the claims politically motivated and demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding a secretly recorded meeting.

This comes after a video surfaced, appearing to show Malaka and IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane allegedly offering investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh a R60 000 bribe to suppress a corruption exposé.

The video has sparked a storm of public attention and led to a criminal case being opened by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

In a statement issued this week, the Malaka Family Trust said the allegations are false, defamatory, and part of a broader campaign to remove Malaka from her post for refusing to bow to political pressure.

“These attacks are not grounded in truth,” the Trust said. “They are part of an orchestrated attempt to damage her reputation and push her out of the IDT.”The Trust firmly denied that Malaka initiated or participated in any bribery.

“Ms Malaka did not offer a bribe, did not suggest one, and did not authorise or handle 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 beforehand, and had no role in choosing the venue or setting up the meeting.

”Raising serious questions about the origin of the video footage, the Trust described the meeting as a 'trap' and called for clarity on who installed the hidden cameras and under what authority.“

This was not a genuine meeting, but a staged setup designed to entrap her,” the statement read.

“The legality and ethics of such recordings must now be scrutinised. Who installed the cameras? Was it legal? Was it part of a political operation?”

The Trust has also questioned the strength of the evidence, saying no money exchanged hands, no deal was made, and that the video itself appears to have been selectively edited.

“In law, there is no offence called ‘intending to bribe’ when no offer was made or accepted. Edited footage and public speculation are not a substitute for legal due process.”

According to the Trust, Malaka is being targeted because of her stance against political interference in the IDT.

It claims her professional clashes with senior figures in government, including over board appointments and administrative control, are well documented and have made her a target.“Her real offence appears to be her refusal to allow political manipulation of the IDT.

This scandal comes amid well-known tensions and governance battles within the organisation,” the statement said. Allegations of coordination between the journalist and government figures have also been raised. “

These claims, already echoed by several political parties and civil society organisations, must now be taken seriously and investigated independently,” the Trust said.

In response, the Trust is calling for several urgent actions: the full unedited release of the video footage; disclosure of all communication between the journalist and IDT officials; and an independent investigation into political interference, media collusion, and the legality of the recording operation.

“Ms Malaka is being vilified not for wrongdoing, but for standing her ground,” the Trust concluded. “She deserves due process, not public trial through edited video and political theatre.”