On Monday, 11 May 2026, Ayanda Allie, Build One South Africa (BOSA) Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, participated in a radio interview on Metro FM. The discussion centred on the pending investigative report by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), which examined the department’s entities and implementing partners.
Following the interview, Ms Allie received a significant amount of information from multiple whistleblowers. As a public representative, her role is to advocate for the rights of the public, ensure their concerns are addressed, and hold those responsible to account when good governance standards are not met.
One particular whistleblower provided Ms Allie with documentation related to Karabo Thuladu Mbele, Chief Executive Officer of the Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB), an entity of GDED. The documents allegedly demonstrate that Ms Mbele is guilty of fraud, corruption, and abuse of office.
The allegations include the following:
- Ms Mbele allegedly facilitated the issuance of award letters for Social Development Fund (SDF) and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) allocations amounting to approximately R73 million for the 2023/2024 cycle while evaluations were still in progress. These letters were reportedly distributed prior to the completion of due diligence, evaluation, and adjudication processes, without Board approval, and in contravention of the SED Policy and financial governance standards.
- Ms Mbele was allegedly involved in the appointment of CCB Recruitment Agency, an entity registered at her personal residence at 43 Link Road, Athol, Johannesburg, and for which she served as a director from 29 July 2022 to 09 February 2023. This constitutes a direct conflict of interest and an alleged breach of the duty to disclose personal and financial interests. In November 2024, payments totalling R747,000 were allegedly made to this entity for recruitment services without adherence to procurement requirements. Additionally, several candidates sourced through CCB Recruitment reportedly lacked the necessary qualifications or suitability for the positions.
- Ms Mbele was also allegedly involved in appointing KSM Human Capital Solutions, a company where she previously served as a director, creating a clear but undisclosed conflict of interest. The company allegedly received R779,400 for recruitment services, while proper procurement procedures, vetting, transparency, and conflict-of-interest disclosures were bypassed. The recruitment process was reportedly non-compliant with regulations, leading to the hiring of unqualified or unsuitable candidates and resulting in financial losses and reduced organisational effectiveness at the GGB.
- In April 2025, Ms Mbele allegedly facilitated the disbursement of R23 million in Social and Economic Development (SED) funding despite explicit instructions from the Board to restart the SED process. The release of funds reportedly proceeded while the original concerns raised by the Board remained unresolved. The allocation allegedly occurred without adherence to required SED evaluation and adjudication procedures, lacked Board approval, contravened directives of the accounting authority, and breached PFMA regulations and the GGB governance framework.
- The alleged violations occurred during Ms Mbele’s tenure as CEO, however, these were reportedly not her first offences. At the time of her appointment, Ms Mbele had allegedly already been involved in improperly awarding R2 million in SED funding to Dono Blox, a company registered at her and/or her mother’s residential address at 299 Daubeney Road, Mondeor, Johannesburg. This allegedly represented another undisclosed conflict of interest. The allocation reportedly occurred without due diligence, SED assessment, project review, beneficiary vetting, or declaration of conflict of interest.
These allegations, if proven true, constitute serious fraudulent and corrupt conduct, as well as significant breaches of ethical and statutory responsibilities. The conduct outlined above may amount to violations of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), the Companies Act, and the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA).
The alleged conduct has exposed the Gauteng Gambling Board to significant financial and reputational risk, while undermining public trust in state institutions and the proper use of public funds.
BOSA today confirms that Ayanda Allie laid criminal charges against Gauteng Gambling Board CEO Karabo Thuladu Mbele this morning, at Bramley Police Station, following serious allegations of fraud, corruption, abuse of office, and conflicts of interest.
BOSA has further formally called on the Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Vuyiswa Ramakgopa, to immediately suspend and remove Ms Mbele pending the outcome of all investigations into the matter
Finally, we have alerted the Hawks, who have asked for the case number in order to consider investigating the matter.
BOSA remains committed to exposing corruption, protecting whistleblowers, and ensuring that those entrusted with public resources are held accountable.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551