Four senior officers from the Maluti a Phofung Local Municipality as well as a private company director appeared at the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court today after they were charged with alleged fraud and corruption.
The five, Mokoana Robert Tsupa (46), Abraham Moratwe Mofokeng (47), Mabidikwana Wilfred Matjele (61), Nkgaudise Nelson Molefe (39), and Configen /Trading Zero Tolerence an entity owned by Tefo Warnic Montsitsi (50), were arrested today after warrants for their arrests were executed by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Crime Investigating Unit following investigation into a security services tender that was unduly awarded to Zero Tolerence.
It is alleged that the accused conspired and colluded during October 2016 and awarded Zero Tolerence a tender to provide protection and security services to the municipality without following the correct Supply Chain Management processes in terms of Municipal Finance Management Act. The municipality reportedly lost almost R700 000 as a result of an alleged irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure.
Prior to the arrests the investigation team seized documents and electronic equipment for analysis to assist with further investigations, which revealed that the same service provider was at some stage appointed by Dihlabeng Local Municipality to render similar services, this appointment was declared unlawful by the Bloemfontein High Court after a rival entity successfully challenged it, the tender was then set aside but despite this, the Maluti a Phofung Local Municipality Manager (ADV Tsupa) undeservedly appointed Zero Tolerence to run the protection and security services for the municipality using the same contract that was declared unlawful and set aside by the High Court.
The case against the accused has been postponed to the 8th of March 2019 pending further investigation. They have all been granted R10 000 bail each pending further investigation.
