ActionSA has submitted formal letters to the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, the Board of Centlec (SOC) Ltd, and the Audit and Risk Committee of Centlec, calling for immediate and independent investigations into serious allegations of collusion between Centlec and the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) in the Free State.
These letters form a follow-up to ActionSA’s press statement issued on 04 June 2025, in which we raised grave concerns regarding an inappropriate relationship between Centlec and the AGSA’s Free State division. The allegations point to a possible compromise in audit integrity, financial oversight, and accountability processes, particularly during past audit cycles involving Centlec, an electricity utility operating under the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
In response, the AGSA released a public statement 05 June 2025, in which it:
-
Denied all allegations of collusion between its team and Centlec employees;
-
Asserted that all findings were consistently reported in Centlec’s audit reports over five financial years;
-
Emphasised its adherence to international auditing standards, internal and external quality reviews, and oversight from bodies such as the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA);
-
Invited anyone with concrete evidence to make use of its formal complaints process;
-
Maintained that “no single person can conclude an audit alone,” and therefore no individual collusion was possible.
Despite this categorical denial, ActionSA issued a rebuttal on 10 June 2025, stating that while we acknowledge the AGSA’s right to respond, its statement fails to engage substantively with the core issues raised. ActionSA is in possession of hard copy evidence evidence and has received multiple whistleblower accounts detailing alleged manipulation of audit processes relating to Centlec.
ActionSA further noted that the AGSA had failed to confirm:
-
Whether an actual investigation was initiated;
-
What methodology or standards were applied in assessing the allegations;
-
The outcome of any internal reviews or special audits;
-
Whether findings or reports were made public.
This lack of procedural transparency, despite credible testimony and documentation, raised additional concerns about accountability within one of the country’s most important oversight institutions. ActionSA reaffirmed its position that the AGSA, in terms of the Public Audit Act (No. 25 of 2004) and Section 195 of the Constitution, has a constitutional duty to act in the public interest, with openness and responsiveness.
Additionally, troubling reports emerged that Centlec CEO Mr Malefane Sekoboto allegedly attempted to unlawfully dismiss company spokesperson Mr Lele Mamatu by presenting him with a falsified resignation letter, an act believed to be a desperate attempt to silence insiders. ActionSA clarified that Mr Mamatu did not leak any information to the party, but this event supports whistleblower claims that individuals at Centlec are actively trying to conceal damning information.
In light of these developments, ActionSA has now taken formal action by submitting the following:
-
A letter to the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, urging Parliament to exercise its oversight powers and launch an independent investigation into both the allegations and the AGSA’s handling of them;
-
A letter to the Centlec Board calling for an internal investigation into the conduct of Centlec officials and the allegations surrounding the qualifications of CEO Mr Sekoboto;
-
A letter to the Audit and Risk Committee of Centlec, requesting a full internal review of the audit process, potential conflicts of interest, and any governance failures linked to the AGSA’s audits.
Each entity has been given two (2) working days to acknowledge receipt of the letters, and fourteen (14) working days to provide a full written response to the matters raised.
ActionSA will not rest until a transparent and credible process confirms whether wrongdoing has occurred. South Africans deserve more than blanket denials, they deserve answers, accountability, and institutions that uphold the highest ethical standards.
ActionSA Escalates Efforts to Uncover Alleged Collusion Between Centlec and Auditor-General’s Office
ActionSA has submitted formal letters to the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, the Board of Centlec (SOC) Ltd, and the Audit and Risk Committee of Centlec, calling for immediate and independent investigations into serious allegations of collusion between Centlec and the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) in the Free State.
These letters form a follow-up to ActionSA’s press statement issued on 04 June 2025, in which we raised grave concerns regarding an inappropriate relationship between Centlec and the AGSA’s Free State division. The allegations point to a possible compromise in audit integrity, financial oversight, and accountability processes, particularly during past audit cycles involving Centlec, an electricity utility operating under the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
In response, the AGSA released a public statement 05 June 2025, in which it:
Despite this categorical denial, ActionSA issued a rebuttal on 10 June 2025, stating that while we acknowledge the AGSA’s right to respond, its statement fails to engage substantively with the core issues raised. ActionSA is in possession of hard copy evidence evidence and has received multiple whistleblower accounts detailing alleged manipulation of audit processes relating to Centlec.
ActionSA further noted that the AGSA had failed to confirm:
This lack of procedural transparency, despite credible testimony and documentation, raised additional concerns about accountability within one of the country’s most important oversight institutions. ActionSA reaffirmed its position that the AGSA, in terms of the Public Audit Act (No. 25 of 2004) and Section 195 of the Constitution, has a constitutional duty to act in the public interest, with openness and responsiveness.
Additionally, troubling reports emerged that Centlec CEO Mr Malefane Sekoboto allegedly attempted to unlawfully dismiss company spokesperson Mr Lele Mamatu by presenting him with a falsified resignation letter, an act believed to be a desperate attempt to silence insiders. ActionSA clarified that Mr Mamatu did not leak any information to the party, but this event supports whistleblower claims that individuals at Centlec are actively trying to conceal damning information.
In light of these developments, ActionSA has now taken formal action by submitting the following:
Each entity has been given two (2) working days to acknowledge receipt of the letters, and fourteen (14) working days to provide a full written response to the matters raised.
ActionSA will not rest until a transparent and credible process confirms whether wrongdoing has occurred. South Africans deserve more than blanket denials, they deserve answers, accountability, and institutions that uphold the highest ethical standards.