SignatureGate: Who could have forged Dukwana’s signature?

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The appointment of a senior manager in the office of Head of Department at Human Settlement is becoming a headache for Free State Provincial Government.

This is after we published a story concerning the fraud case opened by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on the 31 July 2023.

According to the EFF, Dukwana signed the appointment of Letlotlo Matekane on 1 March 2023 as MEC when he had assumed Premiership, a few days earlier, on 24 February 2023.

Matekane who according to the appointment is from Heidelberg was appointed on salary level 11 as Deputy Director on a one year contract which is ending in March 2024.

Bullet point 4 of the letter reads:

”If it possible that errors may been made with your appointment and you are hereby informed that such errors will be rectified when discovered and that any overpayments will be covered from you.”

The contact person for inquiries is Mr K.C Lechoano.

In a letter in possession of this publication, Dukwana appointed erstwhile Tshidi Koloi as acting MEC for Human Settlement and COGTA on 24 February 2023 which means, if anyone had to sign Matekane’s appointment, it could have been Koloi unless the letter was signed while Dukwana was MEC.

If Dukwana did not sign who did? What was the motive and who stood to benefit?

Palesa Chubisi, spokesperson for Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana didn’t respond to our questions.

These are the questions we sent.

1. Can the office of the Premier confirm if the premier is aware of the letter in question?
2. ⁠Did the Premier sign the appointment in his capacity as MEC while he was a Premier?
3. ⁠Was the letter dated wrong?
4. ⁠Was the Premier’s signature forged? If so has this been reported to law enforcement and when?

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