South Africa gambling regulator CEO sacked after forensic probe
- Dr Karabo Mbele has had her contract terminated with immediate effect following a forensic investigation report that found serious governance failures, compliance breaches and alleged interference in funding processes.
- The report, compiled by an independent legal team, also implicated CFO Oscar Maripane, who has been suspended pending an internal disciplinary process.
- The board has appointed an acting CEO as a search for a permanent replacement begins.
The Gauteng Gambling Board, a key South African provincial gambling regulator, has dismissed its chief executive, Dr Karabo Mbele, with immediate effect.
The termination follows a forensic investigation that uncovered alleged procurement irregularities, financial misconduct, and serious governance failures within the entity.
Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, announced Dr Mbele’s dismissal at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday, 18 May.
Ramokgopa said the findings of the independent forensic report painted a deeply troubling picture of institutional decay that could no longer be left unaddressed.
The report was compiled by an independent legal team led by Advocate William Mokhare SC and commissioned in 2025 by the provincial government. Ramokgopa said it was completed earlier this year.
Since taking office on 1 April 2026, she said she had been inundated with whistleblower complaints alleging misconduct and maladministration at the regulator, many of which the report’s findings corroborated.
Findings against Mbele
The report implicated Mbele in the alleged irregular allocation of tens of millions of rand in social development and corporate social investment funding before due evaluation, adjudication, and board approval processes were completed.
Additional allegations included the alleged improper disbursement of social and economic development funding in April 2025, contrary to board instructions and without following required governance and approval processes.
The report also cited alleged conflicts of interest in procurement and the authorisation of payments without supporting documentation.
Ramokgopa, MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, said:
“The report further directly implicates the CEO Dr Karabo Mbele in serious governance failures and gross misconduct, including interference in funding adjudication processes, approval of funding before governance procedures were concluded, authorisation of payments without supporting documentation, and failures in compliance and oversight obligations.”
Ramokgopa added that the findings pointed to broader institutional decay that, left unchecked, would continue to erode public trust and compromise the integrity of the entity.
CFO suspended, administrator sought
The report also made findings against CFO Oscar Maripane, including alleged failures in financial governance, procurement irregularities, non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, and breakdowns in internal controls and statutory reporting obligations.
Maripane has been suspended pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary process.
Criselda Venter has been appointed acting CEO. The board is currently without a constituted membership following several resignations in December 2025, and Ramokgopa said a process to appoint an administrator to oversee the formation of a new board is under way.
Political party Build One South Africa (BOSA) welcomed the decision, stating it vindicates the actions of its MPL Ayanda Allie, who laid criminal charges against Mbele on Friday, 15 May, at Bramley police station.
The charges relate to allegations of fraud, corruption, abuse of office, and conflicts of interest.
Ramokgopa said leadership positions in government cannot serve as shelter from accountability, and indicated that criminal matters arising from the report may also need to be pursued.
Wider regulatory context
The governance crisis at the Gauteng board arrives at a sensitive moment for South African gambling regulation. A National Gambling Amendment Bill proposes several key reforms, including strengthening the National Gambling Board’s oversight role, introducing a register of unlawful gambling operators, and expanding enforcement powers.
Separately, the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition is working on gambling advertising regulations.
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