Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has dismissed Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) chief executive Kedibone Madiehe following a disciplinary hearing into alleged procurement irregularities.
The dismissal took effect on 8 September 2026, after the hearing imposed a sanction of dismissal on 7 September.
The disciplinary process followed several forensic investigations initiated by National Treasury in response to allegations, whistle-blower tip-offs and media reports concerning procurement at the GPAA, a statement from National Treasury said.
The Public Service and Commercial Union of South Africa welcomed the dismissal in a statement issued on Friday.
The investigations focused on the agency’s head-office lease, the African Mobility bus lease, Jicho Consulting contracts, the LCS biometric-system lease, security services and corporate uniforms.
Media reports at the time of Madiehe’s precautionary suspension in August 2025 alleged that the procurement irregularities involved more than R1.2 billion.
The hearing, chaired by a retired High Court judge, began on February 2, 2026. Madiehe was legally represented, as was the employer.
A guilty finding was delivered on August 24. According to the Ministry of Finance, Madiehe was found to have breached the Public Finance Management Act and the GPAA’s supply-chain management and delegation prescripts.
She was also found to have breached her fiduciary and contractual duties, committed gross dereliction of duty, prejudiced the GPAA and exposed the agency to financial and legal risk.
Madiehe was placed on precautionary suspension with full pay in August 2025 while the investigations and disciplinary process were under way.
Job Stadi Mngomezulu, the GPAA’s deputy director-general for corporate services, will continue as acting CEO until a permanent appointment is made.
The acting CEO has been instructed to implement governance arrangements and mitigation measures to restore the agency to a sound footing and strengthen good governance.
“A decision of this nature, and the sanction that accompanies it, is never taken lightly. However, the evidence from the investigation and the seriousness of the transgressions required a proportionate sanction,” Godongwana said.
“Trust is earned through accountability,” he added.
edward.west@nationalmg.co.za
THE NATIONAL