Fresh details have emerged surrounding the departure of former Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Noah Salakae. This publication is reliably informed that he never submitted an official resignation letter despite his parliamentary announcement on Tuesday.
A source from the Office of the President says Boko was left furious following Salakae’s remarks in Parliament on Tuesday, where the former minister accused the the State of using the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to fight political battles.
According to the source, the President had held a conversation with Salakae and requested that he resign from Cabinet after receiving the charge sheet. However, while Boko expected the minister’s departure, he was allegedly never informed of the exact timing of the resignation. Boko only learnt of it through proceedings in Parliament, just like other Members of Parliament and the public.
“The President spoke to him and made it clear that he should resign to go clear his name first, but there was never an official resignation letter submitted. The announcement in Parliament came as a surprise because there was no formal communication indicating when the resignation would take effect,” the source said.
“The President spoke to him and made it clear that he should resign to go clear his name first, but there was never an official resignation letter submitted. The announcement in Parliament came as a surprise because there was no formal communication indicating when the resignation would take effect,” the source said.
He said the appointments of Keoagile Atamelang as Minister of Transport and Infrastructure and Letlhogonolo Barongwang as Assistant Minister were processed despite the absence of a formal resignation letter from Salakae. Salakae is facing serious corruption-related charges alongside six other accused persons.
The former Minister and his co-accused are expected to appear before the Regional Magistrates Court on August 28 to face a raft of corruption, abuse of office and money laundering charges linked to the awarding of a P1.54 billion road construction contract.
The charges stem from investigations by the DCEC into the procurement of the Ghanzi–New Xade road project. According to court documents, Tau Grading and Building Construction (Pty) Ltd, its directors Hugo Johannes Lemcke and Christiaan Rudolf Lemcke, company representative Seby Jose, Salakae, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Kgang Kgamalo Ketshajwang and lawyer Mompati Patrick Sepego have all been charged.
The State alleges that the benefits were provided as an inducement for Salakae to use his position to facilitate or influence the award of the Ghanzi–New Xade road construction contract to Tau Grading and Building Construction. The charge sheet further alleges that the company and its representatives corruptly gave or offered the benefits to Salakae, while the former minister allegedly accepted them in return for exercising influence over the procurement process.
Prosecutors allege that between November 2024 and July 2025, Salakae received benefits worth more than P2 million from representatives of Tau Grading and Building Construction.
The alleged benefits include P1.6 million in cash, a Toyota Fortuner valued at P575,000 and bush-clearing services allegedly carried out at a farm owned by the former minister.
The State alleges that the benefits were provided as an inducement for Salakae to use his position to facilitate or influence the award of the Ghanzi–New Xade road construction contract to Tau Grading and Building Construction. The charge sheet further alleges that the company and its representatives corruptly gave or offered the benefits to Salakae, while the former minister allegedly accepted them in return for exercising influence over the procurement process.
Ketshajwang faces an abuse-of-office charge. Prosecutors allege that, while serving as Permanent Secretary, he authorised the direct appointment of Tau Grading and Building Construction despite procurement requirements that allegedly called for a selective procurement process.
The prosecution further alleges that the direct appointment resulted in the company securing the contract valued at approximately P1.54 billion.
Separate money laundering charges have been brought against Salakae and Sepego. According to the charge sheet, investigators allege that funds derived from the alleged corruption offences were transferred through various bank accounts and later used to acquire agricultural properties in Ghanzi District.
The DCEC announced the charges on Wednesday, a day after Salakae’s parliamentary remarks accusing the anti-corruption agency of being weaponised against political opponents.
In response, the DCEC rejected the allegations, describing them as false and misleading. The agency maintained that it conducts investigations impartially and without prejudice. It said corruption investigations should not be interpreted as evidence of political targeting or interference.
