--- title: "Minister Macpherson to address media as exposé of IDT officials' bribery bid reverberates across SA" description: "Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson is expected to respond to the details of an explosive exposé by Daily Maverick of an attempted bribery of one of its investigative journalists by the suspended Independent Development Trust CEO and her spokesperson." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY" author: "Kara Le Roux" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/kara-le-roux/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-06-idt-bribery-bid-minister-macpherson-to-respond-today/" published: "2025-08-06T21:45:30" updated: "2025-08-06T22:14:30" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 796 --- # Minister Macpherson to address media as exposé of IDT officials' bribery bid reverberates across SA > Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson is expected to respond to the details of an explosive exposé by Daily Maverick of an attempted bribery of one of its investigative journalists by the suspended Independent Development Trust CEO and her spokesperson. By Kara Le Roux · Published 6 August 2025, 23:45 SAST · Updated 7 August 2025, 00:14 SAST ## Key points - Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson is set to address the media today after a jaw-dropping bribery attempt involving suspended IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka, who allegedly tried to slip a journalist R60,000 to bury an investigation into her alleged dubious dealings. - Minister Dean Macpherson to address media today following the suspension of IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka amid bribery allegations. - Daily Maverick’s Pieter-Louis Myburgh exposed an attempted R60,000 bribe by Malaka and spokesperson Phasha Makgolane to suppress an investigation. - IDT acknowledges serious allegations and promises a comprehensive response after board deliberation, while McPherson faces political scrutiny. - Public scepticism remains high regarding government accountability, as previous ministerial misconduct often results in mere portfolio reshuffles. ## Content ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has called for suspended Independent Development Trust (IDT) CEO Tebogo Malaka and her spokesperson Phasha Makgolane to face the law "if they are implicated in bribery". Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson is expected to address the media on Thursday following an explosive exposé by Daily Maverick of an attempted bribery of one of its investigative journalists by the two IDT officials. On Tuesday, Daily Maverick carried video footage and recordings of this blatant attempt to bribe its journalist, Pieter-Louis Myburgh. Suspended IDT CEO Malaka and spokesperson Makgolane attempted to pay Daily Maverick investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh R60,000 in cash over the weekend to suppress an investigation into Malaka’s personal dealings and questionable IDT contracts. The IDT, a very important, if lesser known, government body, spends upwards of R4-billion each year on social infrastructure projects, such as building schools and clinics, and falls under the Ministry of Public Works. Macpherson last week released a forensic report into a R836-million oxygen tender awarded to a ghost company that was first exposed by Daily Maverick. The report recommended that Malaka be suspended. Malaka was placed on precautionary suspension on Friday. **Read more:**[R836m state hospital oxygen tender fraud confirmed, IDT CEO faces suspension](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-29-procurement-fraud-confirmed-in-r836m-oxygen-tender-at-state-hospitals-idt-ceo-faces-suspension/) ![malaka-pending-caryn](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/TwAVRIgZ2Pz_ci-ObiDF_IyrzGk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IDT-Malaka-PLM-Bribe-offer1.jpg) *Daily Maverick's journalist removes the cash from the bag and takes photos of the banknotes. (Screengrabs of video: Daily Maverick)* Now Macpherson's remarks at Wednesday's briefing are expected to set the tone for the government's broader response. [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mFOofR5eHI) The attempted bribe, which took place during a meeting in Stellenbosch, was captured on camera. Myburgh photographed the cash, delivered in a white Dior shopping bag, and recorded video and audio of the exchange. **Read more:**[Exclusive Video: Suspended IDT CEO, spokesperson offer Daily Maverick journalist R60K in cash to quash investigation](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-06-exclusive-video-suspended-idt-ceo-spokesperson-offer-daily-maverick-journalist-r60k-in-cash-to-quash-investigation/?dm_source=dm_block_grid&dm_medium=card_link&dm_campaign=main) Makgolane also sweetened the offer with promises of R100,000 in monthly payments and influence over IDT tenders. In a statement on the briefing, his department confirmed that Macpherson would respond directly to the “serious allegations by Daily Maverick that Malaka sought to bribe journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh”. Posting to social platform X yesterday morning, Macpherson said he planned to consult with the IDT board later in the day. The statement also warned that the matter appeared to be part of “what is now likely a paid-for public campaign aimed at discrediting \[Macpherson’s\] efforts to bring stability and good governance to the entity”. It suggests deeper political and institutional tensions may be at play, especially as Macpherson has been spearheading reform efforts at the IDT. On 22 January, the EFF accused Macpherson of “brazen and corrupt interference” in IDT affairs, citing an incident where he allegedly instructed staff to process a questionable payment to a construction company. The party claimed that Macpherson had unfairly targeted Malaka and used the PSA oxygen plant tender as a pretext for political interference. EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini opened a criminal case of corruption against the minister on 22 January 2025. #### **IDT promises full response** While remaining tight-lipped on the details, IDT spokesperson Lerato Modisana said the IDT acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations. **Read more:**[‘Ghost company’ bags R428m oxygen plants tender for state hospitals](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-28-ghost-company-bags-r428m-oxygen-plants-tender-for-state-hospitals/) The IDT board convened on Wednesday, 6 August, to “deliberate comprehensively on these matters”. However, Modisana said the IDT was not at this stage in a position to respond to specific media enquiries. The organisation pledged to uphold “transparency, accountability and good governance” and promised that “a detailed response will be provided in due course, once the board has fully considered all the relevant facts and implications”. #### **What everyone wants to know** Daily Maverick’s exposé has garnered significant attention from other media, including radio broadcasts. Readers applauded Myburgh's efforts, while some wondered at the sheer audacity of the brazen bribery attempt. Reader Eddie Maulson summed it up: “One is gobsmacked at the lack of thought that went into this outrageous attempt at bribery, not to mention the effrontery that these individuals show in their lamentable assumption that they could bribe a man of PLM’s integrity in such a crass manner.” #### **A history of red flags** Malaka was already under scrutiny, having been placed on precautionary suspension days before the footage emerged on 1 August 2025, following the release of a PwC forensic report into the R836-million PSA oxygen plant project. **Read more:**[PwC launches forensic investigation into IDT’s troubling R836-million oxygen plants project](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-22-pwc-launches-forensic-investigation-into-idts-troubling-r836-million-oxygen-plants-project/) That report, spurred by Daily Maverick investigations in October 2024, recommended disciplinary action for Malaka, citing her failure to prevent or address serious violations in the project’s procurement. **Read more:**[Independent Development Trust CEO suspended over R836m tender irregularities](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-03-independent-development-trust-ceo-suspended-over-r836m-tender/?dm_source=top_reads_block&dm_medium=card_link&dm_campaign=top_reads&dm_content=maverick_news) The IDT has long struggled with governance and accountability, facing repeated criticism over failed projects and procurement lapses, eroding public confidence in the agency’s leadership. **DM**