The Nelson Mandela Foundation has confirmed that it is investigating allegations against its own senior managers.
The foundation, which seeks to promote the legacy of the world statesman who died in 2013, has been left red-faced after an anonymous complaint from staff members accused Chief Executive Officer, Sello Hatang, and Chief Operations Officer, Limpho Monyamane, of graft.
These allegedly include procurement impropriety and the misuse of the foundation’s corporate credit cards for personal purchases at fast food restaurants, bookstores, hardware and sporting goods stores
Foundation chairman Prof. Njabulo Ndebele, in a vague statement on Wednesday, said the investigation was initiated on December 15 2020 after an email from unidentified staff members a day earlier.
“The foundation takes allegations of such a nature very seriously and is committed to ensuring a fair and proper outcome,” said the statement.
The foundation was established in 1999 when Mandela stepped down as the President of South Africa. It seeks to contribute to making a just society by mobilising his legacy, providing public access to information on his life and times, and to convene dialogue on critical social issues.
The foundation said that interviews were currently being conducted with management, staff and a small number of service providers to ensure all sides of the story are heard.
“The foundation is deeply committed to transparency and good governance, and will ensure that it acts in the best interests of its stakeholders, management and staff.”
“In line with this, the outcome of the investigation will be made public once the process is completed and the investigative report has been considered by the board. This will include details of the investigation itself, how and by whom it was undertaken, and any recommendations that may be made.”