Pilane digs heels in
Oarabile Mosikare | Monday June 16, 2025 11:21
'It cannot be justifiable under any condition for a suspect to transfer an investigation officer,' Pilane wrote on May 22, 2025, saying it amounts to brazen conflict and breach of ethics.
'I accordingly humbly ask that you reconsider your stance in lieu therefore I will have no choice but to subject your decision to judicial review.'
He said the transfer is clearly not in the interest of the civil service but in the interest of the suspects he mentioned in general, Peloetletse and Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS) head, Peter Magosi in particular.
'It is therefore arbitrary, unprocedural, unlawful, and unreasonable,' Pilane added.
As a result, he asked Peloetletse not to act on her intention and to allow him to serve his country without fear or favour. The top DCEC investigator said the transfer removes him from the law enforcement space which it is his chosen career field.
Pilane added it would be recalled that he was recruited from the army and all his professional life has been in the enforcement space. He said this will have an effect of frustrating him out of the civil service.
'The transfer is punitive. It comes in the aftermath of my enquiries to how my candidacy for the post of Deputy Director-General (Operations) was conducted.
'I was adjudged competent for the post a matter confirmed by the Director-General (DCEC) in writing,' Pilane said.
He added he was subsequently advised that he was outcompeted by an external person for a post that was not externally advertised.
Pilane said it is clearly his enquiries in that regard which he had expressed in several letters that have precipitated his transfer.
'The transfer is actuated by ulterior motives. It is a move to flush me out of the civil service for my doing my work without fear or favour,' he asserted.
Pilane said it is noteworthy that in 2022, during his acting appointment, he started investigating cases involving prominent persons.
They included Peloetletse, Magosi, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) CEO, Gasennelwe Senai, former Minister of Lands Dr Kefentse Mzwinila, and Botho Seboko, a close friend of Magosi.
'I mentioned the above cases for context. They regarded possible corruption by persons mentioned. I completed investigations and dutifully handed over the files to my superior, the Director-General (DCEC), Botlhale Makgekgenene,' he said.
'To date the Director-General has suppressed the files and not acted on the same. After handling the same to her, word leaked to {DIS} Director-General Peter Magosi that I was investigating him, resulting in death threats to me which I duly reported.'
Contacted for a comment, Peloetletse said 'Employer vs employee matters are not to be discussed with third parties, but we look at the exigencies of the public service.'