Deaf centre boss in corruption charges

Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday September 22, 2017 16:04

 

The 52-year-old Mokgosi appeared before Magistrate Mompati Taolo of the South Regional Magistrate’s Court last week charged with two counts of stealing by servant.

Investigations conducted by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) revealed that Mokgosi, in the period between November and December 2007 in Gaborone stole two cheques amounting to P2,383 belonging to her employer, the BSD, by converting the said cheques into her personal use. The cheques came into her possession by virtue of her employment.

 Mokgosi pleaded not guilty and will appear for mention at the end of October 2017. BSD employees have on numerous occasions complained of maladministration by the leadership leading to a strike at some point. Salaries could not be paid and fingers were pointed at Mokgosi amongst others as possible culprits who were alleged to misuse donor funds.

In 2014, an audit report from the then Ministry of Education and Skills Development that was addressed to the BSD, contained allegations of maladministration which include falsification of records, utilisation of funds for items initially not meant for and lack of cooperation from the centre’s management to avail data needed for audit. The ministry pours millions of pula into the organisation for running its schools and other programmes.

The society, owned by the Botswana Council for the Disabled, is a NGO and a non-profit making institution that provides nursery and primary education centres for hearing impaired children aged between three and 18 years in the country.

Efforts to get a comment from the BSD board chairperson Kerebotswe Khulela proved futile at the time of going to print. Mmegi wanted to establish why Mokgosi is still occupying office while facing corruption charges.