Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The mathematics behind the expenditure incurred while hosting Teboho “Sulky” Mokoena shortly after he became MEC for Agriculture in 2023 is simply not adding up.
Mokoena, who is now responsible for Human Settlements and COGTA following the national government elections in May 2025, was first appointed by former Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana in 2023.
Soon after his appointment, Mokoena stayed at Protea Hotel Willow Lake, with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development incurring the following costs:
19 – 25 March: R11 350 (6 days)
26 – 31 March: R13 390 (5 days)
1 – 8 April: R13 350 (7 days)
This amounts to R38 130 in just 18 days.
For reasons known only to himself, Mokoena then moved to Southern Sun, and within 20 days the costs had more than doubled.
10 – 30 April: R75 152 (20 days)
1 – 10 May: R35 785 (9 days)
11 – 31 May: R68 664 (20 days)
1 – 17 June: R58 364 (16 days)
This totals R237 965 in 65 days.
As we zoom into these costs, we will also investigate the travel agency used and how its services were procured.
Should evidence emerge that Mokoena was directly involved in the procurement process, the incumbent MEC, Elzabe Rockman would have a duty to report the matter to SAPS.
Failure to do so may amount to a breach of Section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA 12 of 2004), which criminalises the failure by persons in positions of authority to report known or suspected corrupt transactions.
What we do know for a fact is that Mokoena was directly contacted by a service provider regarding the Egyptian trip. The same service provider was later paid by the Department of Agriculture for work done while he was still MEC there, according to financial statements in our possession.
As promised, we will stick with Mokoena like a pit bull deals with a bone every day till June 16 without fail till he changes his surname again.
In other news, Lulama Titi-Odili will also get her fair share of attention she demands.
From Monday the team will be in East London for Julius Malema v Oscar Mabuyane’s court case. Any donations for travel and accommodation can be made via details below.
There is also Minister of Transport v Millicent Setai coming in the R4.3 million settlement.
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