Moagi-linked card allegedly exposes P4.7 m scandal
Larona Makhaiza | Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:26
Prosecutors state in the charge sheet that on or about April 17, 2024, the former Minister accepted P4.7 million from New Energy Company Pty Ltd, via Wisecreatives Investments Pty Ltd. They argue this was a reward for issuing prospecting licences in Gantsi, Tsabong, and Tutume to New Energy. In the second case, Moagi faces two counts of corruption and money laundering.
With respect to the first charge, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) investigator, Ngiye Ngiye, took the witness stand yesterday.
He mapped out how what started as allegations of bribery and living beyond one’s means evolved into an investigation spanning banks, fuel stations, company records and prospecting licenses.
Ngiye told the court that in February 2025, the DCEC received allegations that Moagi, while serving as substantive Minister of now Minerals and Energy, had solicited and received bribes from companies doing business with his ministry.
“The investigation was to look into companies he was alleged to have solicited and received bribes from. “These involved companies are Wisecreatives Investment Pty Ltd, New Energy Pty Ltd, and Ryders Company,' Ngiye said.
He revealed that one of the earliest breakthroughs came during an enquiry at Shaffi’s Filling Station in Ramotswa, where investigators sought to establish how Moagi was paying for fuel.
According to Ngiye, the station’s management confirmed that the former minister maintained an account and regularly settled fuel expenses using a Bank Gaborone card.
“I went to Bank Gaborone with a merchant copy from the filling station to establish whose card it was,” Ngiye told the court.
During the investigations, the Bank allegedly confirmed that the card did not belong to Moagi but to Wisecreatives, a company whose sole director was identified as a Chinese national, Zheng Li.
As investigators dug deeper into the company’s banking records, they allegedly discovered a stream of deposits from New Energy and Ryders.
The court heard that on May 16 2024, New Energy transferred P5,000 into Wisecreatives’ account. Less than a month later, Ryders allegedly deposited P1 million.
New Energy would later make three more transfers: P1.2 million on August 8, P1 million on September 26, and P1.5 million on October 24.
As investigators dug deeper into the company’s banking records, they allegedly discovered a stream of deposits from New Energy and Ryders.
By the end of October, the two companies had allegedly channelled a combined P4.7 million into Wisecreatives. The investigations then moved to Moagi’s residence in Ramotswa.
Ngiye testified that during a search operation at the property, investigators found the very Bank Gaborone card they had been tracing. “We found the card belonging to Bank Gaborone in his possession. “It was retrieved from a vehicle parked in his yard,” the investigator told the court.
The card was allegedly recovered from a Ford Ranger. The DCEC officer further testified that company records revealed close links between Wisecreatives, New Energy, and Ryders through overlapping directors, including Zheng Li and Gang Li.
But it was the timing of certain transactions that raised the question of whether prosecutors appeared keen to highlight.
Investigators established that New Energy had secured a P50 million Botswana Power Corporation smart grid project in partnership with Ryders. The company had also been granted eight prospecting licenses covering areas in Gantsi, Tsabong, and Tutume.
According to Ngiye, six of those licenses were signed on August 5, 2024. Three days later, New Energy allegedly transferred P1.2 million to Wisecreatives.
The court heard that two more licenses were signed on September 11. Two weeks later, another P1 million allegedly flowed from New Energy into the Wisecreatives account. Ngiye maintained that Moagi had access to the account through the company card and used it for personal expenses.
He revealed that he already had a million pula of that money. “The accused spent around P1.8 million of the money paying his children's school fees in two colleges at Durban, purchased stock feeds, paid school fees at Thornhill, and repaired his vehicle,” Ngiye revealed.