Collen Mashawana, founder and chairman of the Collen Mashawana Foundation. | Tebogo Malaka, suspended IDT CEO. (Photo: IDT) | Austin Mashawana during an interview at the Collen Mashawana Foundation’s Rivonia offices in June. (Photo: Pieter-Louis Myburgh) 
The Independent Development Trust (IDT), now led by acting CEO Sfiso Nsibane, has vowed to probe serious allegations of signatures fraud.
The latest instalments in Daily Maverick’s ongoing IDT investigations has highlighted alleged signatures fraud in documents the Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF) submitted to the IDT in relation to a controversial R60-million employment scheme.
Our investigation, in part supported by the findings of an independent forensics firm specialising in signatures and handwriting analysis, points to glaring discrepancies in the payment sheets, attendance registers and other documents the CMF submitted in order to receive funds from the IDT for its work in Limpopo. In some months, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants contracted to the CMF did not receive their salaries.
The IDT also tasked the CMF to run employment programmes in Gauteng, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations, the IDT is initiating an independent forensic verification process to authenticate all relevant records,” the IDT stated in response to our queries.
According to the organisation, a probe is already underway following Daily Maverick’s initial reports in August this year, in which we revealed that the Collen Mashawana Foundation had failed to pay hundreds of its workers in the Free State.
“The IDT takes all allegations of fraud, forgery or financial misconduct seriously. The matter concerning CMF forms part of a broader verification process initiated by the organisation following media reports published in August 2025.”
The IDT says it will take strong action against the CMF should its probes point to any malfeasance.
“Should the findings confirm any evidence of deliberate falsification or fraud, the IDT will refer the matter to the relevant law enforcement authorities and invoke all contractual remedies, including cancellation of all contracts, blacklisting of the service provider, and recovery of misused funds in accordance with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), read together with the Treasury Regulations and the IDT’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) Policy.”
The entity says its acting CEO, who assumed office in early November, has been fully briefed on the matter.
“The team continues to review and verify supporting documentation and an update will be provided to all relevant stakeholders once verification is complete. It is important to note that this verification process is still under way and certain documents are being independently reviewed to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information.”
The IDT hopes to improve the control measures that guide its EPWP initiatives.
“The IDT is in the process of implementing biometric attendance and payment verification systems in future EPWP cycles to strengthen control measures and prevent recurrence of such risks,” reads the statement.
Read more: Forensic experts find massive ‘signatures fraud’ in Collen Mashawana Foundation’s IDT documents
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