Explosive: Acting HOD Mtolo seeks exit amid alleged poisoning and assassination plot claims

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – Shockwaves are by rippling through the Free State government after Acting Head of Department for Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr S. Mtolo, formally requested to step down from his position under a cloud of alleged assassination attempts and internal turmoil.

In a letter dated 10 February 2026, addressed to Free State Premier Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae, Mtolo requests to be released from his acting role and reinstated to his substantive position as Deputy Director-General: EPWP, Works and Property Management.

The letter, which is in the possession of Step Up SA News, has since been marked “approved”, raising further questions about what may have transpired behind closed doors.

While the letter itself maintains a diplomatic tone, thanking the Premier for the opportunity to serve, insiders paint a far more sinister picture.

Highly placed sources allege that Mtolo was poisoned in December 2025 in what is believed to have been an attempt on his life. The alleged incident reportedly left him shaken and forced him away from work.

Matters are said to have escalated dramatically upon his return in January, when Mtolo allegedly discovered that the bolts and nuts on his vehicle had been deliberately loosened, an act sources claim could have led to a fatal accident. Those close to the situation suggest this was no coincidence, but a calculated move to eliminate him.

Sources now claim that these back-to-back incidents became the breaking point, the moment that ultimately forced Mtolo to abandon the acting HOD position despite the prestige attached to it. The developments raise serious concerns about the safety of senior officials and the extent of internal battles within the department.

The approval of his request by Premier Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae now places the spotlight squarely on her office, with growing questions about what the provincial leadership knew about these alleged threats and whether adequate action was taken to protect one of its top officials.

Mtolo is not the only survivor, a threat was directed at Dr Masego Tshabalala and it was not carried out.

Others who were eliminated include Luzoko Ntlebeza who was gunned down after leaving Mangaung Metro premises while Seipati Lechoano’s corpse was found in the boot of her car in the buildings of MMM.

Nyakallong Housing Disaster

In other news, a disaster is loading in Nyakallong with at least 42 houses affected.

Austin Chaole explains.

This while President Ramaphosa is paraded in projects started by Mxolisi Dukwana and Toto Makume as Premier and MEC for Human Settlements respectively.

Ramaphosa’s visit is a slap in the face of Social Development staff who were unlawful transfered and to date, neither Ramaphosa and Publc Service Commission have addressed their concerns not forgetting the silence from National Prosecting Authority on a pending decision against Mathaes.

Social Dev. staff seek intervention from Ramaphosa, Mbalula, and Human Rights Commission

Step Up SA News has formally reached out to Mtolo for comment. Among the questions posed are whether he has officially returned to his DDG position, when the transition took place, whether his release has been formally accepted by the Premier, and whether he can confirm the alleged poisoning and tampering with his vehicle.

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