GEPF chair must go after allegations of VBS bribes 

17 July 2024

Solidarity will address official correspondence to the Minister of Finance, requesting that Dondo Mogajane be immediately relieved of his duties as chairperson of the board of the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF).

According to the latest allegations from an affidavit of the sentenced chairperson of VBS Mutual Bank, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, R1 million was allegedly paid to Mogajane so that he would use his influence to convince municipalities not to stop investing in VBS Mutual Bank.

In light of the large-scale corruption and looting at VBS Solidarity has reason to be concerned about Mogajane’s suitability to now serve as the GEPF chairperson. 

According to Renate Pieterse, network coordinator for the public industry at Solidarity, Solidarity will have to consider legal options if Minister Enoch Godongwana does not accede to this reasonable request. 

The very same Godongwana was the one who originally nominated Mogajane – the former Director-General of the Treasury – to the GEPF board.

“The GEPF is one of the 30 largest pension funds in the world, and it is worrying and unacceptable that its chairperson is implicated in such serious allegations of financial irregularities.

“Furthermore, it is widely known that Dondo Mogajane has also been appointed and is serving as the CEO of the Moti Group. Allegations of money laundering and other serious irregularities at the group are contained in the so-called Moti Files, and have previously been exposed by investigative journalists,” Pieterse said.

According to Pieterse, Solidarity makes this appeal to the Minister of Finance based on its responsibility towards the trade union’s GEPF members, as well as towards public service pensioners in general.

Should urgent steps not be taken to remove Mogajane from his position, Solidarity will have to resort to further action.

Issued by Renate Pieterse, Network Coordinator: Public Industry, 17 July 2024