Free State Tourism Authority chair is a convicted criminal

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – Following the suspension of Free State Gambling, Liquor, Tourism, and Authority Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Dichabe for misconduct, last month, there is more.

Hardly a week after the suspension, two acting CEOs were appointed by the board and MEC respectively indicating the much talked about power struggle.

Before the suspension of Dichabe, there was an open letter circulating about the board members having aspirations to be employed full-time at the tourism company and directly interfering with daily operations.

STEPUPSANEWS can confirm that the board chairman, Jack Tladi is a convicted criminal and he was found guilty of fraud.

According to the SAPS file in our possession, the complainant is Johan Christiaan Augustyn.

But how did Tladi become part of the board and be appointed as chairman despite having a criminal record?

Also, who nominated him?

Sources say the MEC for DESTEA, Thabo Meeko objected to the board members being vetted otherwise this would have been picked.

Tladi is not the only one with a criminal record, there is also Cecil Ngwenya at Free State Education who to date, 23 months after the Public Service Commission declared his appointment to be irregular and recommended the department to correct this, nothing has been done.

There is another former teacher who was also convicted, his appointment at COGTA was blocked because staff defied the then MEC who knew he had a criminal record but insisted his criminal friend be appointed.

We have his full details including the crime he committed.

Last year in February, Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana’s signature was allegedly forged at department of Human Settlement and he did nothing, we are reliably told that’s not the only signature forged, there are many and we also know who is the master forger of Human Settlement.

This is a developing story.

Another board of interest is FDC and how money meant for businesses ended in the pockets of politicians who struggle to pay back the money.

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