Rand Water has referred payments totalling about R6.5 million to its Integrity and Probity Assurance Business Unit for an independent fact-finding review after the water utility paid a private company associated with Pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng for venue hire.
What was paid and when
The payments cover venue-hire services for four Rand Water events held in the 2025/26 financial year. In a written reply to Parliament, water and sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina said the amounts and dates were:
| Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 3 November 2025 | R2.3 million | Event venue rental |
| 6 November 2025 | R213,000 | Event venue rental |
| 5 December 2025 | R3.8 million | Event venue rental |
| February 2026 | R21,000 | Event venue rental |
Majodina said the contracted services were delivered and that all four events were completed.
Referral for investigation
According to the minister’s response to an MP’s question, Rand Water’s Supply Chain Management referred the matter internally, and the utility’s integrity unit opened a fact-finding review on 1 September 2026 to establish whether any wrongdoing occurred and to probe possible links to other persons or entities mentioned in allegations.
“Rand Water’s Integrity and Probity Assurance Business Unit is conducting an independent fact-finding review following a referral by Supply Chain Management on 1 September 2026,” said Majodina’s office.
The referral follows a parliamentary question from MKP MP Visvin Reddy, who asked whether water boards had awarded tenders to Incredible Happenings (Pty) over the past decade. In her reply, Majodina said the payments were for venue hire to host activities including long-service awards and staff training.
Broader concerns and links under scrutiny
The minister’s reply also notes allegations that prompted Rand Water to consider whether there are links between Mboro and another pastor, Witness Mazanga, who has reportedly won substantial contracts from other state-owned entities. Majodina’s office said management had referred the query to internal review to determine whether any connection exists between Mr Mazanga and the entity allegedly associated with him.
MP Reddy, cited in the minister’s response, framed the issue in the wider context of public service delivery: “South Africans are sitting without reliable water while enormous amounts of public money move through the water sector.”
Responses and next steps
- Rand Water has launched an internal fact-finding review via its Integrity and Probity Assurance Business Unit following an SCM referral on 1 September 2026.
- Minister Pemmy Majodina provided the details in a written parliamentary reply to MP Visvin Reddy.
- Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng declined to comment on the matter, replying by text message: “Iyooo, I wasn’t aware about this, no comment … Eish I under watch for 24/7.”
The integrity unit’s review is described as fact-finding; the minister’s office did not set out a timetable for conclusion nor indicate whether external investigators or the Auditor-General would be involved. The review will determine whether any procurement rules were breached and whether the payments are linked to other procurement concerns raised publicly.
Why this matters for households and public services
While the sums involved—about R6.5 million—are small relative to the entire water sector budget, the grievance raised in Parliament touches on two broader public-policy issues: the integrity of procurement processes at state utilities and the opportunity cost of public money when basic services such as reliable water supply remain under strain. For households, every rand diverted through irregular or poorly governed contracts is a rand not available for maintenance, infrastructure upgrades or service improvements that affect taps and jobs in the sector.
The Rand Water review will be watched closely by Parliament, oversight bodies and civil-society actors. Any further findings that suggest irregularity could prompt referrals to law-enforcement or audit institutions and fresh scrutiny of procurement practices across the water sector.
The matter remains under review. The minister’s written reply and Rand Water’s referral are the public record on which oversight and any subsequent investigations will be based.
