Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – Serious questions are being raised about the decision-making process of Auditor-General of South Africa, Tsakane Maluleke, following her recent decision to rescind a Certificate of Debt (COD) reportedly worth almost R16 million against former Human Settlements HOD, Mosa Masemene.
In a letter dated 1 June 2026, Maluleke stated that her decision to withdraw the certificate was based on written and oral representations made by Masemene.
The question is: why were these representations accepted now and not earlier in the process?
A key argument advanced by Masemene is that she could not implement the remedial actions contained in the Auditor-General’s report because she had been transferred from the Department of Human Settlements to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Read that again.
If this explanation was ultimately sufficient to convince the Auditor-General to rescind the Certificate of Debt, critics are asking why it was not considered before such a serious step was taken.
Masemene was transferred to Public Works and Infrastructure on the 18 November 2024. She was replaced by Advocate Jacob Phahlo.
Yet the Certificate of Debt was only issued in October 2025, almost a year after her departure from Human Settlements.
Surely, AG should ought to have known this…
This raises another important question: if the remedial actions remained unimplemented long after Masemene had left the department, who should bear responsibility for that failure?
If accountability is linked to the implementation of remedial actions, should the focus now shift to those who occupied leadership positions after her departure?
Or this was tailor made for Masemene?
The matter has also reignited concerns about governance and accountability within the Department of Human Settlements, a department that has repeatedly found itself at the centre of controversy.
As more information emerges, questions continue to mount over how a Certificate of Debt of this magnitude was issued, only to be withdrawn months later.
Was this a near R16 million error in judgment, or does the reversal reveal deeper problems in the accountability process?
Just a stone throw away from G-Hostel, residents live in horrible conditions.
All pictures and videos attached in this article were taken on the same day. G-hostel is still not complete and residents of Monnahalatwe Informal Settlement need housing.
This is a developing story as we dig deep into the remedial plan and the date of its execution to recover the money.
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