Premier’s Office backdated transfer to mislead AG

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The Office of the Premier in Free State has backdated the transfer of Sello Martins to December 2024 in order to mislead Auditor General of South Africa.

Sello Martins who according to government system, was paid on the 15 December 2024, and 15 January 2025, as Chief Financial Officer, has allegedly been forced out in an effort to accommodate Khopotso Moahlodi who was transferred while Martins was still in office.

Insiders in the office of the Premier say Martins was transferred to Intervention Unit when he returned from leave on the 21 January 2025.

A source with intimate knowledge said misleading AGSA is a criminal offence.

“It will be very easy for AGSA to find out, yes they may produce paperwork to show Martins was transferred in December 2024, but the systems will show its a lie.

Martins was on sick leave when Khopotso was introduced to staff, so when did he sign?

Misleading AGSA is a criminal offence.”

Another source said Acting Director General must explain if Martins was transferred in December why was he paid on program 1 not 2.

“Sello Martins was paid as a CFO which is program 1 meaning at the time of his salary in December and January he was still a CFO and not transferred, as they want AGSA to believe.

Dr Phera must explain.”

A director of Legal Service in one government who spoke on condition of anonymity said this is fraud.

“Thorough illegal… actually it is fraudulent.

This would be important to keep in mind that the functions of the AGSA are described in section 188 of the Constitution and further regulated in the Public Audit Act, 2004 (Act No. 25 of 2004) (PAA), which mandates the AGSA to perform constitutional and other functions.

To this extent deliberately misleading the AGSA is a criminal offense.”

STEPUPSANEWS can confirm Sello Martins will be seconded to FDC from the 1 February 2025, in 2023, Thabang Mokoka, another employee in the office of the Premier was transferred to Central University of Technology (CUT) in order to make way for Palesa Chubisi who moved from a political office to administration.

Sechaba Maphalla who was acting as Chief Director will relinquish his acting from 1 February 2025, Tshidi Setai, the newly appointed spokesperson of the Premier will act as Chief Director.

Employed in the 1 December 2024, Setai got elevated.

Setai who is a political appointee will now occupy and be absorbed into administration post.

Only in Free State.

Acting Director General, Dr Solomon Phera did not answer our questions.

With Setai at the helm or communication, maybe office of the Premier will respond to enquiries including if she did complete her matric like her profile states.

Last week we reported Mathae went to Mariasdal Secondary School, with those who were in class her saying they don’t remember her completing.

Mathae is a serial survivor, she did not only survive contempt of court, she survived bullets when those who where with were shot and killed years ago.

Khutsafalo Mnisi from AGSA acknowledged receipt our question but didn’t responded to our question around the lawfulness of Moahlodi’s transfer.

In our follow up questions, we will ask AGSA to look beyond signed documents and if it’s true that the transfer of Martins was backdated will she refer the matter to Hawks for fraud.

This is a developing story.

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