Nkandla contractor faces new fraud charges

AN uMhlanga business woman, Thandeka Nene, who was hired as the building contractor for President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla home, has been charged with corruption and 18 counts of fraud.

It is alleged that she bribed public work officials, and lied about her building experience to secure government tenders valued at R118 million rand.
Media reported that the 42 year old woman was arrested last week following a four month investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit, which revealed some ‘irregularities in the tender procurement process’.

Nene was accused of lying to the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) when she applied for grading, in an attempt to improve the grade. She also allegedly sent the CIDB forged tax clearance certificates and made regular deposits into the bank account of a public works official, to receive 12 tenders from the Department of Public Works.

After appearing at the Durban Commercial Crime Court before Judge Nalini Govender she was released on R30 000 bail, and her case has been remanded to Friday, 12 December.

Controversy surrounding the business woman was raised December last year, when she and two other people were arrested on fraud charges in the Seychelles. At the time she was accused of being involved in an international R7 billion bank fraud syndicate.

Media claimed that she pleaded guilty and paid an admission of guilt fine so that she could be allowed to return home.