Fraud and Risk Manager dragged for reporting liquor license fraud to Hawks

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The decision to open a criminal case with Hawks over a liquor license has led to the suspension of Banzi Tollie, Manager: Fraud, Risk and Auxiliary Services at Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority.

Tollie was suspended on the January 31, 2025 for second time after the board had revoked his initial suspension on the 18 April 2024, for the same charges.

A letter revoking his suspension from Sharon Mohale: General Manager Corporate Service and Operations dated 17 April 2024 reads:

“After careful consideration, the Board have come to a determination that based on the facts at Board’s disposal, there are no justifiable grounds to place you on suspension and therefore you are requested to report for duty tomorrow, 18 April 2024.”

However, nine months later, Tollie was served with a audit alteram partem on Thursday, 30 January 2025 and asked to make his representations before 16h00 on Friday, 31 January 2025.

STEPUPSANEWS has reliably learnt Tollie was given suspension letter just 30 minutes after making his representations and the suspension letter says consideration to his representation was made.

The charges according to a letter in possession of this publication emanated from Tollie:

• Testifying at the CCMA for a fellow employee (Solomon Magashule who CCMA found his dismissal to be unlawful and set aside)
• Opening a criminal case for the entity despite being warned not to do so (Parkroad Cas 624/03/2024)

Section 57 of PFMA reads:

“Responsibility for risk management vests at all levels of management and that it is not limited to only the accounting officer and internal audit.”

Furthermore, Section 34(2) of the Act provides that any person who fails to report such corrupt activities is guilty of an offence.

Tolli will be dragged through a disciplinary hearing today for raising an alarm over a licence issued on the 21 December 2021.

According to a board member who spoke on condition of anonymity says the approval was granted without final inspection as required.

Tshediso Lerumo, spokesperson for FSGLTA asked us to move our deadline as people with information are not available but we are of the view this was an attempt to delay the publication as the hearing starts today.

If the hearing is today surely the evidence pack is sorted.

This story will be updated once they respond.

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