Limpopo ANC to deal with MEC over ‘R1m bribe’

The Limpopo ANC yesterday vowed to crack down on an MEC accused of soliciting a bribe of more than R1 million from a non-governmental organisation contracted by the basic education department to build toilets at rural schools.

Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe is accused of demanding R1 050 000 from the construction company, Mvula Trust, under the pretext the money was going toward his constituency work.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) opened a case of corruption against the MEC yesterday.

The bribery allegations are allegedly contained in a confidential report compiled by independent auditing firm, Nexia SAB and T.

The firm was hired by Mvula Trust to audit its books in the 2017/2018 financial year.

The firm won a lucrative multimillion-rand tender from the national department of basic education in the 2012/13 financial year.

The toilets were to be built as part of the Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative in Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.

According to the report, R150,000 was paid to Kgetjepe on September 28, 2017, R150,000 on October 23, 2017, R150,000 on November 1, 2017, R100,000 on December 4, 2017, R100,000 on December 15, 2017, R150,000 on May 23 last year, R150,000 on June 6 last year and R100,000 on June 27 last year.

ANC Limpopo provincial spokesperson Donald Selamolela said: “It doesn’t matter how big you are or what position you hold in government or the ANC. The law will take its course. We have planned to deal with this matter the same way the ANC and the Limpopo provincial government dealt with the VBS saga”.

Police spokesperson in Limpopo Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed a case of corruption was opened by the EFF at the Polokwane police station yesterday and was being investigated.

Democratic Alliance provincial chairperson Jacques Smalle called on Premier Stan Mathabatha to fire Kgetjepe.

– alexm@citizen.co.za

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.