National Gambling Board department head quits after audit

Caroline Kongwa, the chief strategic adviser at the National Gambling Board (NGB), is to resign following an audit.

The audit, carried out by TSU Investigation Services, found that performance bonuses received by Caroline “were not approved in accordance with the NGB’s performance management policy and [therefore] are considered to be misappropriation of funds”. Her international travel expenses were also considered to be misappropriation.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said: “Following receipt of the investigation report, the Minister appointed legal representation to advise him on the next steps. The Minister is currently consulting with legal counsel on the next steps.”

Caroline Kongwa’s term as joint administrator has been extended several times since 2014, and she became chief strategic adviser in 2019. She was joint administrator with Tumelo Baleni after the resignation of the NGB CEO in 2014. The rest of the National Board also resigned in 2014-15, meaning that NGB has been without a board for 11 years.