By Lebogang Mashala
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained an interdict to prevent a pension payout to Matilda Gasela, the former head of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) department. She is facing criminal charges, including fraud, corruption and maladministration, related to a contract worth over R33 million.
The SIU has obtained an interim court order from the Special Tribunal to interdict the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) from processing the pension benefits of approximately R3.3 million of Matilda Matozi Gasela, the former Head of Department (HOD) at the GDARD.
According to a statement from the SIU, an elite crime-fighting agency, an order was issued on 15 May 2025, restraining Gasela from accessing or claiming certain funds while legal proceedings are ongoing. Gasela, who began her role as HOD on 1 December 2018, is alleged to have played a significant role in the mismanagement of a contract involving Enviro Mobi (Pty) Ltd, now known as Groen Mintirho.
“Despite the company’s failure to deliver the required vehicles, she authorised further payments and approved a settlement of over R6.4 million for alleged ‘storage costs’, an expense not stipulated in the original contract,” said Kaizer Kganyago, SIU spokesperson.
Kganyago said the senior counsel had explicitly advised against this payment, which was later deemed fruitless and wasteful expenditure. “Her actions reportedly violated the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and contributed to the depletion of public funds. The SIU describes this as part of a fraudulent scheme. Following the investigation, the SIU referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) after finding evidence of criminal conduct, specifically gross violations of the PFMA,” he said.
Furthermore, according to Kganyago, the NPA received this evidence to consider pursuing criminal charges, including fraud, corruption and maladministration, against the accused. In October 2024, Gasela and her co-accused were arrested. Her co-accused include:
- Loyiso Mkwana, Chief Director: Sustainable Use of Environment at GDARD, who also served as the Chairperson of the Bid Evaluation Committee.
- Thandeka Mbassa, former Head of the Department at GDARD, who left GDARD in August 2018.
- Abdullah Mohamed Ismail, former Chief Financial Officer at GDARD and Chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee.
- Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe, Director of Mvest Trading (Pty) Ltd.
- Tinyiko Mahuntsi, Director of Enviro Mobi.
- Puleng Peter Mabe, former Director of Enviro Mobi and a former Member of Parliament.
The accused are implicated in unlawful procurement and financial mismanagement related to the R33 million contracts awarded to Enviro Mobi by the GDARD and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM). They appeared before the Palmridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Johannesburg
“Under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation due to acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration,” explained Kganyago. He stated that in this case, the SIU has filed papers in the Special Tribunal to review and set aside the contract, as well as to recover the financial losses suffered by the State, totalling just over R33.7 million.
The SIU was mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. R.15 of 2021 to investigate instances of alleged maladministration in the GDARD and EMM concerning the procurement or contracting for the supply of 200 portable three-wheel, motorised waste collection vehicles. The SIU has completed its investigation and submitted its report to the President during the 2023-2024 financial year.
