- Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka found no evidence that Dean Macpherson breached the Executive Ethics Code after an EFF complaint over IDT payments.
- The report confirms the minister acted within cooperative governance principles to resolve delayed payments, not to exert influence or favour service providers.
- Macpherson says the complaint was an attempt to obstruct investigations into alleged corruption at the IDT and is considering civil action.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has been cleared of all allegations arising from a complaint lodged by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in January 2025.
The Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, found that Macpherson’s conduct did not breach the Executive Ethics Code and was consistent with constitutional principles of cooperative governance.
In a detailed report, the Public Protector concluded that the complaint was not substantiated. Macpherson’s engagement with the Independent Development Trust (IDT) was aimed at resolving long-standing payment delays to service providers, in line with National Treasury regulations requiring payment within 30 days. The investigation was conducted under the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, 1998.
No evidence of wrongdoing or abuse of power
The complaint alleged that Macpherson improperly interfered in the affairs of the IDT after enquiring about delayed payments to a service provider, claiming this amounted to a breach of the Executive Ethics Code. The Public Protector rejected this claim, finding “no evidence of undue influence, favouritism, conflict of interest, or abuse of power.”
Gcaleka found that the minister’s conduct did not violate Section 96 of the Constitution or the Executive Ethics Code, and that his actions were consistent with the principles of cooperative governance, focused on resolving a long-standing payment matter.
The report further notes that the complainant failed to provide proof for serious allegations against the minister, including claims of bribing journalists. It also records that the complainant did not respond to the Public Protector after a draft report was circulated in October 2025.
Minister says complaint aimed at blocking reform
Reacting to the findings, Macpherson welcomed the report, saying it vindicated his long-held view that the complaint and ActionSA’s subsequent call for his suspension formed part of an orchestrated campaign to obstruct efforts to clean up the embattled IDT.
“The Public Protector’s findings confirm what I have said from the start, that this complaint was never about ethics or accountability. It was about obstructing reform at a time when sensitive investigations were underway at the Independent Development Trust,” Macpherson said.
He pointed to investigations linked to the controversial R800 million oxygen plant tender, warning that his suspension would have halted accountability processes and entrenched misgovernance at the entity.
“Instead of supporting our efforts to clean up the IDT and hold those responsible for wrongdoing accountable, the EFF initiated this complaint, and ActionSA chose to support it by calling for my suspension,” he said.
Concerns over misuse of public resources
Macpherson also criticised what he described as the waste of public resources, noting that taxpayer money and the Public Protector’s time had been consumed by a complaint without evidentiary support.
He said it was “regrettable” that political parties aligned themselves with forces seeking to frustrate reform at the IDT, rather than supporting governance restoration and service to the public interest.
“The Public Protector’s report vindicates our actions to stabilise and reform the IDT so that it can fulfil its mandate of delivering social infrastructure to communities across South Africa, in both rural and urban areas,” he said.
Macpherson added that he would now consider civil litigation against individuals and parties who, he said, repeatedly spread false allegations to discredit him and derail reform initiatives.
“As we said when these complaints first emerged, we will not be deterred from restoring good governance and accountability within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and its entities. They must play an important role in building a better South Africa.”
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