In an exclusive interview, we sat down with Bojane Segooa, the former Chairperson and Non-Executive Director of Daybreak Foods, to discuss her resignation. She speaks openly about the challenges the company faced and why she ultimately stepped down from Daybreak Foods.
Perhaps let’s start with the most important question. There have been media reports questioning payments you received from Daybreak Foods. Are you able to respond to that?
Ms Segooa – Absolutely. All payments I received were for services rendered and were fully compliant with the company’s delegation of authority policy. Importantly, I made the conscious decision together with other board members, to forfeit nearly R2 million in board fees in order to prioritise critical needs such as employee salaries and animal welfare costs. That sacrifice speaks to where my priorities lay. The payments I received related to work completed well before my resignation, so the suggestion that I was paid and then walked away is simply not accurate.
Wait, when you say you forfeited R2 million, you also now make it sound as though you donated this money for employee salaries. So basically you did Daybreak a favour…
Ms Segooa – No, that’s not what I meant. What I said is that I voluntarily forfeited close to R2 million in board fees to help prioritise staff salaries and animal welfare. At that time, the business needed those funds more than I did. It wasn’t about doing anyone a favour, it was about doing the right thing under difficult circumstances.
Why resign so early, though? You only spent a year as Chair. Why join Daybreak Foods in the first place?
Ms Segooa – I joined Daybreak in May 2024 with a very clear mission to help lead a turnaround strategy for a company in deep financial distress. At that time, the business was impacted by the 2023 avian influenza outbreak, limited cash reserves, and an unfavourable audit outcome. My priority was to strengthen financial management, governance, and ethics, in line with the Companies Act and King IV principles. More importantly, I wanted to stabilise the company, protect jobs, and ensure the welfare of the birds. That was the commitment I made when I came on board.
Well, you couldn’t have done all of that in a year. That’s why your short stint appears to signal disarray at Daybreak. Why did you really step down?
Ms Segooa – Let me be clear, the company was operational and stabilising, not in disarray. My resignation was a deeply personal decision, driven by serious safety concerns. As we pursued investigations into HR irregularities and financial mismanagement, I was subjected to intimidation and my family received threats. At one stage, I required armed guards, and there was even an incident where board members were held hostage. These matters are now with the police. Ultimately, it became impossible for me to continue under such circumstances. It was a heartbreaking choice because I believed in the mission, but my family’s safety had to come first.
Are you able to shed some light on how far your investigation went into HR irregularities and financial mismanagement? Who took over after you left? Is there an interim report?
Ms Segooa – It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on the specifics of any preliminary findings. Such matters are confidential and would have been circulated internally to the board. What I can say is that I took governance, financial oversight and accountability very seriously during my tenure. In terms of Daybreak Foods current operations and reports, the business rescue practitioner is best placed to respond.
Before this interview, you said you strongly believe there’s a smear campaign against you linked to these investigations. Do you still feel that way, or are you just upset?
Ms Segooa – Yes, I do believe there has been a deliberate smear campaign linked to the investigations I led. The attacks on my integrity became more aggressive as we uncovered irregularities. This has been deeply upsetting on a personal level, but my focus is now on restoring my reputation through the proper legal channels. I remain confident that the truth will prevail.
While you were Chair, the board secured a significant loan. What happened to that money?
Ms Segooa – Yes, that is correct. In early 2025, the board secured a R250 million loan from the Public Investment Corporation through the GEPF. The purpose was very clear, to upgrade abattoirs, improve water treatment facilities, and stabilise chicken processing systems after the heavy losses caused the 2023 avian influenza outbreak. The funding was intended to give Daybreak a fighting chance at recovery. Unfortunately, the lingering effects of the outbreak combined with the broader operational pressures, meant the business could not fully trade out of the crisis. As result, the board had to make the difficult but necessary decision to initiate a business rescue process to safeguard the company’s long-term sustainability.
Did you engage with the business rescue practitioner? Or did you simply walk away?
Ms Segooa – I did not walk away. I ensured a responsible handover with my board colleagues and obtained a written commitment that workers’ salaries would be paid. I have also made myself available to the business rescue practitioner to support the smooth transition. It’s important to clarify that while the board provided strategic oversight and ensuring accountability, the day-to-day running of the business remained with the executive team.
Social and mainstream media tell a different story about your resignation, though. A quick online search shows this has had serious repercussions, I would assume.
Ms Segooa – It’s been incredibly difficult. Unfounded allegations such as these can tarnish anyone’s reputation. I am taking legal steps to address what I believe is a smear campaign. Beyond the professional impact, the personal toll on me and my family has been heavy. This experience is also a stark reminder of the risks female leaders face when they confront mismanagement and corruption. I therefore ask for privacy as I work to restore my name.
Is there a final message you’d like to share with those following this story?
Ms Segooa – I want people to know that every decision I made at Daybreak was guided by a commitment to ethical governance and the best interest of the its employees and surrounded communities. I remain grateful to the Public Investment Corporation for the opportunity to serve, and I sincerely wish the company and its rescue practitioner every success going forward. Leadership in difficult times is never easy, but I hope my journey highlights the importance of standing true to one’s principles and standing firm in the face of adversity.
And what’s next for you?
Ms Segooa – At the moment, my priority is addressing the legal aspects of this situation and ensuring my family’s safety. I remain deeply committed to ethical leadership and transformation in South Africa’s corporate sector. While I will continue advocating for strong governance, I am taking one step at a time and drawing strength from the support I have received. I am also focused on my charity work through the Level Up Careers Foundation NPC, which provides secondary school learners with access to digital career guidance and access meaningful educational opportunities.