A bank card found inside a Ford Ranger parked at former minerals minister Lefoko Moagi’s Ramotswa home has emerged as a key piece of evidence in the State’s corruption case. Prosecutors this week used witness testimony to draw a line between millions of pula paid into a company account and the granting of eight prospecting licences.
The card, according to Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) investigator Ngiye Ngiye, was linked to a Bank Gaborone account belonging to Wisecreatives Investments, a company whose sole director was identified as Chinese national Zheng Li.
Testifying before the Regional Magistrate’s Court, Ngiye said investigators first encountered the card while probing allegations that Moagi had been living beyond his means and may have received benefits from companies doing business with his ministry.
“DCEC had received an allegation to the effect that the accused, who was said to be the Minister of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, solicited and received bribes by companies engaged by the ministry. Also that he was living beyond means,” Ngiye told the court.
The investigation began in February 2025 and initially focused on companies that allegedly had dealings with the former minister, including Wisecreatives Investments, New Energy Company and Riders (Pty) Ltd.
According to the investigator, enquiries at the filling station revealed that Moagi had settled debts using a Bank Gaborone card. Armed with merchant transaction slips, investigators approached the bank, where they were informed that the card belonged to Wisecreatives Investments.
Ngiye testified that investigators discovered Moagi was using a bank card to settle personal expenses, including fuel purchases at a filling station in Ramotswa. “I learnt during investigation that he had an arrangement for a card to settle his debt, personal means and he had an account with Shaffi’s Filling Station at Ramotswa where he paid with the card,” he said.
According to the investigator, enquiries at the filling station revealed that Moagi had settled debts using a Bank Gaborone card. Armed with merchant transaction slips, investigators approached the bank, where they were informed that the card belonged to Wisecreatives Investments.
“She told me that the bank card belonged to Wisecreatives Investments Pty Ltd,” Ngiye testified. “She further gave me copies of the identity documents of the director of the company.”
The court heard that bank records, company registration documents and identity records obtained from the bank showed Zheng Li as the sole director of Wisecreatives.
Ngiye said a subsequent analysis of Wisecreatives’ bank statements revealed a series of transfers from New Energy Company and Riders (Pty) Ltd.
According to the testimony, Wisecreatives received P5,000 from New Energy on May 16, 2024, followed by P1 million from Riders on June 3, 2024. Further transfers included P1.2 million on August 8, 2024, P1 million on September 26, 2024 and P1.5 million on October 24, 2024.
“Cumulatively the two companies transferred P4.6 million to Wisecreatives held at Bank Gaborone,” Ngiye told the court.
Investigators later searched Moagi’s residence in Ramotswa, where they allegedly found the Bank Gaborone card inside a Ford Ranger parked in the yard.
Ngiye testified that enquiries with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy established that New Energy had been awarded eight prospecting licences covering areas in Gantsi, Tsabong and Tutume. The company was also linked to a Botswana Power Corporation smart-grid pilot project valued at approximately P50 million and undertaken in partnership with Riders.
“We conducted a search and found the card belonging to Bank Gaborone in his possession,” Ngiye testified. “It was retrieved from a vehicle parked in his yard.”
The State’s case this week sought to connect the financial transactions to official decisions made by the ministry.
Ngiye testified that enquiries with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy established that New Energy had been awarded eight prospecting licences covering areas in Gantsi, Tsabong and Tutume. The company was also linked to a Botswana Power Corporation smart-grid pilot project valued at approximately P50 million and undertaken in partnership with Riders.
A second State witness, Matlhogonolo Samuel, a deputy director responsible for prospecting and licensing in the Department of Mines, outlined the process through which prospecting licences are assessed and approved.
The witness testified that New Energy’s applications were processed through the department’s standard procedures, including technical and financial assessments by junior officers, recommendations by senior officials and a further recommendation by the department’s director before being forwarded to the minister.
“The application is looked at by juniors, then financials of the applicant,” Samuel testified.
The officer told the court that six prospecting licences were approved on August 5, 2024 and a further two on September 11, 2024.
Samuel said he had personally recommended approval of the licences before forwarding them to the department’s director.
“The director made the recommendation to the minister,” he testified.
Asked who the minister was at the time, Samuel replied: “Lefoko Moagi.”
“On August 5 he signed six licences of New Energy and three days later, on August 8, P1.2 million was transferred from New Energy to Wisecreatives,” Ngiye told the court.
The witness further told the court that the minister was not obliged to follow recommendations made by officials.
“The minister can decline or approve,” Samuel testified.
Asked whether prospecting licences could be issued without ministerial approval, he replied: “Without a signature of the minister, no licence.”
Prosecutors highlighted what they described as a significant sequence of events between the approval of the licences and transfers into the Wisecreatives account.
“On August 5 he signed six licences of New Energy and three days later, on August 8, P1.2 million was transferred from New Energy to Wisecreatives,” Ngiye told the court.
He added: “On the 11th of September he signs two prospecting licences, two weeks later on September 26 P1 million is sent from New Energy to Wisecreatives.”
Under cross-examination by defence attorney Tengo Hubadira, Samuel confirmed that New Energy’s applications had satisfied the department’s requirements before reaching the minister.
“They were found to be compliant,” he said.
Asked whether compliant applications were approved and issued, Samuel responded: “Yes. If we issue, it means the company is compliant.”
The defence emphasised that New Energy’s applications had passed through several levels of scrutiny before reaching the minister.Samuel agreed, telling the court: “Applications were assessed by juniors, then they were passed to me for recommendation. Then I passed them to the director. The director then passed them to the minister.” The trial continues. Moagi has pleaded not guilty.
