Statement: Defending Dr Gwen Ramokgopa from Baseless and Malicious Allegations

6 October 2025

Once again, the rumour mill has found a new victim — this time, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, a respected public servant whose name has been irresponsibly dragged into speculative and unverified claims linking her to businessman Cat Matlala.

A fabricated post — falsely branded as a report from Carte Blanche — has been circulated online alleging that Dr Ramokgopa approved payments and benefited certain individuals during her tenure as MEC for Health. The image has been rightly labelled “FAKE NEWS”, and we call on the public and the media to treat it as such.

Dr Gwen Ramokgopa’s professional record speaks for itself. For decades, she has served the public with distinction — as MEC for Health, Deputy Minister, and later Minister of Health — earning a reputation for integrity, diligence, and fairness.

At no point in her career has Dr Ramokgopa been implicated in any act of corruption or administrative impropriety. Her leadership has always been guided by principles of transparency, ethical governance, and accountability.

The attempt to associate her with Mr. Cat Matlala — without evidence, documentation, or credible source verification — is not just reckless; it is defamatory.

Dr Ramokgopa has consistently aligned herself with credible business people, good legal advisors, and professionals of integrity.

 Her focus has always been on strengthening public health systems, improving service delivery, and promoting clean administration within the institutions she has led.

These unsubstantiated claims are not only an attack on her personally — they are an insult to every public official who continues to uphold the values of ethical leadership in a political environment too often marred by misinformation.

The Organisation for Human Rights RSA strongly condemns the weaponisation of social media to distort facts, destroy reputations, and mislead the public.

 This fake post — using the name of a reputable media brand to fabricate claims — demonstrates the urgent need for digital responsibility and media literacy in our society.

We urge all citizens, journalists, and political commentators to verify information before sharing, and to avoid contributing to campaigns designed to defame individuals without evidence.

Dr Gwen Ramokgopa remains a figure of credibility and moral standing within South African public life. She is a leader who has always chosen to walk with law-abiding professionals, credible advisors, and principled partners.

As an organisation dedicated to truth and fairness, we reject any baseless association attempting to tie her to corruption or misconduct.

Falsehoods may travel fast — but the truth, as always, will endure.

Issued by:

 Organisation for Human Rights RSA

 Defending integrity, justice, and human rights in South Africa