KZN officials in catering tender scandal named
The five suspects are linked to several tenders worth more than R20 million.
Hawks warned that more arrests are coming after five people appeared in court on Thursday for fraud and corruption charges.
The five suspects include four employees in the Office of the Premier and a service provider.
All five suspects appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court where they were released on bail.
Ziphathe Mboneni Cibane (55) a Chief Financial Officer was granted R 10 000 bail.
Nomusa Zakwe (35), personal assistant; Njabulo Makhathini (34) administration clerk; Sithembiso Msomi (53), senior administration clerk were granted R5 000 each.
Gugu Kheswa (51), director in Phumalanga Communications Close Corporation, was granted R20 000 bail.
ALSO READ: KZN government officials arrested for R25 million catering tender
Brigadier Hangwani Malaudzi, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) said the officials had conspired with service providers to secure catering tenders.
Hangwani said the suspects flouted all supply chain procedures and received kickbacks from the tenders.
“These allegations were reported to the Durban Serious Corruption Investigation unit. A prosecution guided investigation led to the arrest of the four officials and one service provider. The total value of the contracts under investigation is more than R20 million,” he said.
Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said the tenders in question were awarded between 2013 – 2016, preceeding the current Premier, Sihle Zikalala assumed his role.
Lennox Mabaso, KZN government spokesperson, said some of the officials had already been suspended pending the conclusion of an internal disciplinary process.
Meanwhile the National Head of the DPCI, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has welcomed the arrest of the suspects.
“As we indicated before, all those who contributed in looting the government and municipalities shall be brought to justice,” said Lieutenant General Lebeya.
The case has been postponed to 2 October 2020.
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