PS controversially redeployed amid clashes with Ramogapi
Bonolo Khumotaka, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Human Settlements, has once again been relieved of her position and redeployed to the National Planning Commission (NPC) as Deputy Commissioner General.
According to information reaching this publication, the letter of redeployment was delivered by her former Minister, Onneetse Ramogapi, and signed by the Permanent Secretary to the President, Emma Peloetletse, who is the appointing authority.
The NPC currently has no Commissioner General following the departure of Christopher Molomo, and like many parastatals, has been under acting leadership. Sources familiar with government structures insist this move does not constitute a demotion, as Permanent Secretaries and DCGs are at par.
Khumotaka's redeployment has sparked widespread national debate. While some hail her as a capable performer, others are less complimentary, accusing her of manipulating the system.
Still, what remains clear is that this is not the first time she has been abruptly reassigned, or forced into retirement; a similar scenario unfolded during the administration of former President
Mokgweetsi Masisi, but she resurfaced at the Ministry of Education and Basic Skills and now again under President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.
This has raised a string of questions: If Khumotaka is being sidelined for non-performance, why was she recalled from retirement to re-join the civil service?
Why did the new administration retain her, transferring her from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to a ministry where she was previously seen to have performed well, only to be moved again after a brief stint?
Her latest redeployment, following close collaboration with Minister Ramogapi and his deputy Motsamai Motsamai, continues to fuel speculation about whether she is a victim of political maneuvering or a seasoned survivor in a shifting bureaucratic landscape.
The redeployment from the Ministry of Water and Human Settlements to the NPC has reignited long-standing questions about her role in government and the internal politics that appear to shadow her movements.
While some describe Khumotaka as a principled and high-performing public servant, one who is not afraid to confront wrongdoing even when it involves senior officials, others paint a starkly different picture.
Critics allege she is domineering, unyielding, and prefers to operate on her terms, often clashing with those who do not align with her approach.
One such clash allegedly occurred with her former minister, Ramogapi at the height of a social media storm alleging that Ramogapi was gifted a new vehicle by Chinese contractors, whispers began to circulate that trust between the two had broken down.
The allegations, which linked the supposed gift to influence peddling as billion-pula contracts are often awarded by the ministry, raised red flags both within and outside government.
Ramogapi, however, strongly denied the claims in an interview, explaining that the vehicle in question, a second-hand Toyota Fortuner, was purchased through a government loan.
To verify this, an investigation was reportedly launched within the ministry. Surprisingly, it was Khumotaka herself who presented the documentation to investigators, including loan records and official policy guidelines, confirming that ministers are entitled to such vehicle loans.
This move, which could be seen as either transparency or damage control, helped quell immediate suspicions.
Still, sources suggest the tension between Khumotaka and Ramogapi ran deeper. At one point, it is alleged that the minister expressed a preference for her redeployment, an indication that the
working relationship may have become untenable. But the political calculus shifted after a meeting involving Assistant Minister Motsamai.
According to insiders, that session marked a turning point. Relations improved, and both Ramogapi and Motsamai reportedly began to value Khumotaka’s role, acknowledging her institutional knowledge and operational discipline.
One example cited was her initiative to gather ministry staff and stress the importance of preparing comprehensive responses to parliamentary questions. She reportedly warned against half-baked replies that could expose ministers to embarrassment during legislative sessions.
Still, the central question lingers: if Khumotaka was performing well and had repaired relations within the ministry, why was she moved again? And why does her name continually appear in internal battles, regardless of the administration in power?
Whether her redeployment is part of a broader power realignment or simply administrative reshuffling, Khumotaka remains a figure who divides opinion and invites scrutiny, respected by some, resented by others, but rarely ignored.
Despite signals of progress within the Ministry of Water and Human Settlements, Bonolo Khumotaka’s sudden redeployment suggests there may have been more unresolved issues than previously disclosed. If the contents of the redeployment letter delivered to her on Friday are anything to go by, her transfer appears to mark the culmination of internal tensions.
When contacted for comment, Minister Ramogapi was extremely cautious. He confirmed the redeployment but stressed that he was not the appointing authority and therefore not at liberty to discuss the matter in detail.
“Yes, she has indeed been redeployed,” he said. As of press time, Ramogapi said he had not been informed who would be replacing Khumotaka but pledged to work harmoniously with whoever is appointed.
The move has only intensified debate, as competing narratives swirl around Khumotaka’s tenure. While her supporters continue to laud her as a capable administrator, others claim she leverages the work of her subordinates, particularly directors, to gain recognition, stepping into the limelight only once results have been delivered.
Even more damning are persistent allegations of workplace bullying and an autocratic leadership style. It is said that Khumotaka often insists on bringing along a trusted circle of staff, such as a preferred economic planner.
One particularly explosive claim suggests that Khumotaka clashed with Ramogapi over who should be awarded the lucrative Chobe–Zambezi water pipeline tender, a project expected to become one of the country’s most expensive and expansive infrastructure undertakings.
Sources allege that Khumotaka stood firmly against a plan to steer the multibillion-pula contract towards preferred Chinese contractors, effectively blocking what some insiders described as an 'inducement' effort. The pipeline is expected to supply vast parts of the country, including the arid Kgalagadi region.
Ramogapi has strongly denied these claims, dismissing them as “grossly misleading” and designed to tarnish both his reputation and that of the ministry.
In an interview with this publication, he said: “If anyone claims there is corruption surrounding the Chobe–Zambezi pipeline project, then they are being economical with the truth and deliberately
misleading the nation.”
He emphasised: “Let me categorically state that, as far as this project is concerned, there is no minister, officer, or civil servant involved in any corrupt activity. Anyone suggesting otherwise is, quite frankly, lying.”
Still, the sharp divide between public narratives and the timing of Khumotaka’s redeployment raises questions. Was her exit a natural administrative decision, or the result of deeper unresolved tensions involving procurement, control, and power within a high-stakes ministry?
With no clear answers from official channels and both sides trading accusations, the story of Bonolo Khumotaka’s transfer continues to unfold in the shadows of controversy.