The Board of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) welcomes the Pretoria High

Court’s decision to dismiss, with punitive costs, the application brought by individuals

purporting to represent Black Forum SA and Izwi Labantu Forum. The application

sought to suspend the appointments of five trustees to the IDT Board and was

decisively rejected by the Court.

We note with appreciation the court’s strong rebuke of the applicants’ conduct and the

scale C punitive costs order awarded against them. This ruling is a firm endorsement

of due process, accountability, and the legal authority of the board as duly constituted.

As a Board, we remain resolute in fulfilling our mandate to steward the IDT toward

ethical governance, institutional reform, and operational excellence in service of South

Africa’s most vulnerable communities. The judgment provides us with the necessary

assurance and clarity to move forward with urgency and confidence in implementing

the governance agenda.

We further affirm our full alignment with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure,

the Honourable Dean Macpherson, in his stated commitment to restore integrity and

accountability to the IDT after years of challenges marked by allegations of

maladministration and corruption.

The work of rebuilding trust in public institutions is neither easy nor popular, but it is

necessary. The IDT Board will continue to act in the best interests of the South African

public, guided by principles of transparency, professionalism, and constitutional

integrity.

We thank all stakeholders – including our staff, implementing partners, and government

counterparts – for their continued support and call upon all role-players to reject

attempts to derail the progress underway.

Ends

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Issued by:

The Board of Trustees

Independent Development Trust (IDT)

Media enquiries: Mr Phasha Makgolane

Senior Manager: Communications (Acting)

Cell: 072 231 1564 or Email: phasham@idt.org.za