uThukela has been made aware of another scam that allegedly targets tender bidders. The scam artists ask that R200,000 be paid to a ‘municipal official’ in order to secure an appointment letter for tenders.
The scammers then ask the victim for about 15% in every invoice issued thereafter. The modus operandi includes making telephone calls to potential service providers to make these demands.
What is more disturbing is that they identify themselves as a Mr Sithole, without giving their first names. It happens that there are two senior managers at uThukela District Municipality whose surname is Sithole. One of them is the municipal manager and the other is the chief financial officer (CFO).
“We wish to raise awareness among the public at large, as well as all service providers, about this scam that is dragging the names of our executives and our municipality through the mud. As such, we also wish to distance ourselves from the scam,” said uThukela.
Members of the public are further reminded that appointment letters are not for sale.
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Service providers are urged to be vigilant and to carefully scrutinise any form of communication, be it a phone call or email, that claims to be from the municipality.
The municipality urges the public to report any suspected fraudulent activities to law enforcement authorities.
An investigation is currently underway.
