In the article, Huddle muddle week ending 17 May, Public Protector office spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said the drafting of a provisional report had already commenced. “It is hoped that the report will be ready by the end of June,” she said. In a follow up article, Tender still in the blender, week ending 30 July, Masibi said the report would be ready by the end of August.
In response to questions about the delays, Masibi said the Public Protectors’ investigation would only be completed once outstanding documents had been received from the South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession.
Masibi said, “The Public Protector is awaiting the investigation report on the valuation done on Huddle Park. The Public Protector will be provided with a report when the matter has been through the council Disciplinary Tribunal.”
She said the Public Protector would then take appropriate remedial action once she had made findings on completion of the investigation.
Chad Thomas of the IRS forensic investigations said a criminal case was opened against the Johannesburg City Council and the Johannesburg Property Company. Thomas said, “The case was deemed nolle prosequi (will not prosecute) in a seemingly irregular manner and the docket was archived. I requested that the Organised Crime Division of the Gauteng Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation re-open the case. The case is currently under review.”
The case was opened after Huddle Investments which comprises shareholders, Investec Property, Standard Bank Properties and Global Capital purchased 53 hectares of Huddle Park for R45 million. The value of the land is believed to be about R200 million.
Thomas said the illegal sale of state owned land through flawed tender processes was widespread, but this case was different because of the large quantity of land that was sold at a fraction of the true land value.
