Mosilo Mothepu
Public servant
Mosilo Mothepu is a South African chartered accountant and former executive at Trillian Capital Partners who became one of the country’s most respected whistleblowers during the state capture era. As the former CEO of Trillian Management Consulting, Mothepu played a critical role in exposing alleged corruption, irregular contracts, and the misuse of public funds involving politically connected companies and state-owned entities.
Mothepu became concerned after witnessing what she believed were deeply irregular business practices linked to contracts between Trillian, Eskom, and McKinsey & Company. She alleged that Trillian received substantial payments from Eskom despite not having a valid contractual basis for portions of the work. Her disclosures helped investigators and journalists uncover how consulting arrangements may have been used to facilitate state capture and divert public funds.
In 2016, Mothepu formally reported her concerns to authorities and later became a key witness before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. Her testimony provided detailed insight into internal operations at Trillian, including alleged pressure, governance failures, and suspicious financial arrangements connected to politically exposed networks. Her evidence became an important part of understanding the broader architecture of state capture in South Africa.
Speaking out came at enormous personal and professional cost. Mothepu has publicly spoken about facing intimidation, isolation, reputational attacks, financial strain, and emotional pressure after exposing the alleged wrongdoing. Despite these challenges, she continued to advocate for accountability, ethical leadership, and stronger protections for whistleblowers in both the public and private sectors.
Beyond exposing corruption, Mothepu demonstrated that whistleblowing is not only an act of resistance but also a public service — one rooted in protecting democratic institutions and ensuring that public resources serve citizens rather than corrupt interests.
Mosilo Mothepu is recognised for her commitment to truth. She helped expose systemic wrongdoing at the height of state capture and inspired others to stand for accountability and justice.