CEDA faces leadership confusion as two CEOs emerge

The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) has been plunged into leadership uncertainty, with two individuals effectively occupying the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).The confusion stems from the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship’s announcement on August 4, 2025, of the appointment of Khalala Mokefane as CEO of CEDA, as part of a wider reshuffle by Permanent Secretary Joel Ramaphoi, who unveiled new leadership for four state-owned enterprises (SoEs).However, the decision immediately raised questions, as Thabo Thamane remains the substantive CEO of CEDA. Though suspended since January 2025, Thamane’s contract is valid until December 2025.The Ministry appeared to have overlooked this fact, later withdrawing its press release and clarifying that Mokefane would only serve as caretaker CEO.Sources close to the matter revealed that Thamane’s lawyers had threatened legal action, accusing the Ministry of attempting the “constructive dismissal” of their client. The Ministry then retracted itsinitial statement following the strongly worded correspondence.“Thamane has a running contract, and effectively, what they did is tantamount to constructive dismissal,” one source said.“They rushed to correct it and rebranded Mokefane’s role as caretaker. But the million-dollar question is: would anyone leave a secure job at a bank for a temporary position?”The incident has also reignited debate over Thamane’s prolonged suspension. The Ministry had promised to conclude an audit of his tenure within three months, yet eight months have now passed without progress.“Nothing has been done in eight months, and Thamane remains on suspension. The Ministry’s indecisiveness on this matter is clumsy,” the source added.Thamane refused to comment on the matter. Efforts to contact both PS Ramaphoi and Minister Tiroeaone Ntsima were futile at press time.Details of Thamane’s suspension were never made clear, but it was later linked to a forensic audit, which the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship decided to undertake.Thamane was sent home on full pay, retaining all benefits, with his contract still active. He was being investigated over allegations of corruption following mounting pressure from the public.The suspension also triggered instability inside the agency as the Board of Directors, led by Botswana Democratic Party activist, Dr Alfred Tsheboeng, left immediately after Thamane.Little has been said about the audit, although the minister had promised to give periodical updates. The ministry and the CEDA leadership had clashed over the funding of the probe as the Ministry wanted CEDA itself to fund the audit, with costs estimated at around P30 million.CEDA argued that the amount was exorbitant and that such a probe cannot exceed P1 million.

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CEDA faces leadership confusion as two CEOs emerge