By 
The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has strongly refuted claims that it failed to investigate allegations of corruption and fraud concerning the construction of Semphato Secondary School in Soshanguve.
In a media statement released on Monday, Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, clarified that an active investigation into the project was launched immediately after the allegations were made public. The department previously confirmed the ongoing probe in public statements issued on 11 July 2026.
According to the department, an initial review of available project records has revealed no evidence of irregular expenditure, over-certification, or financial prejudice resulting from the payment certification process.
MEC Mamabolo criticized the former sub-contractor behind the claims, Mkhize Gcwabe Properties (MGP), whose contract on the project was terminated by the main contractor in July last year. The MEC warned disgruntled sub-contractors against using unsubstantiated allegations in the media to deliberately destabilize delayed projects.
The department also expressed strong disappointment with the media coverage surrounding the matter, specifically pointing to Arena Media publications, the Sunday Times and Sowetan. Department officials stated that the outlets published allegations without giving the provincial government an adequate right of reply or properly reflecting its public responses. Of particular concern was the Sowetan, which the department said failed to seek comment before publishing a recent report that repeated allegations previously carried by the Sunday Times.
“The suggestion in the reports that there is already a finding of fraud and corruption against the Department is incorrect. No such finding has been made,” the statement read. The department cautioned that presenting unverified claims as established facts risks misleading the public and damaging the credibility of the ongoing probe.
MEC Mamabolo highlighted that the investigation was referred directly to the department’s Infrastructure Governance Lab (IGL), an internal unit established under its broader Turnaround Strategy to look into reports of suspected wrongdoing.
“Should the investigation find substance to the allegations of corruption or other wrongdoing, the DID will refer the matter to the relevant law enforcement agencies and will not hesitate to institute disciplinary proceedings against any officials found to have acted improperly,” Mamabolo said.
Addressing questions regarding financial oversight, the department explained that all projects undergo a strict due diligence process at the end of construction, known as the final account stage. This phase reconciles all payments made throughout construction to ensure that the state receives value for money and that no unjustified payments occur.
The MEC noted that the department’s Turnaround Strategy, launched last year, has already led to the termination of six poorly performing contractors while fast-tracking six completed projects since the start of the year. Additional completions are expected before the end of the current financial year.
Mamabolo emphasized that these outcomes demonstrate progress in strengthening project governance, oversight, and accountability, while directly addressing historical issues such as project delays and poor management.
