Zondo dossier

Claims of alleged maladministration, fraud and corruption pertaining to Limpopo’s estimated R585 million broadband project roll-out are bulging a dossier reportedly handed to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into alleged state capture a fortnight ago.
Copies of documents enclosed in the dossier found their way to Polo­kwane Observer as the Provincial Government Information Technology Officer (PGito) who has been attached to the Office of the Premier the past three years, Lesetja Mathiba cast aspersions on decisions around a project believed to have been introduced to eventually up service delivery to the people of the province once implemented.
It was learnt that Mathiba intended returning to the commission of inquiry in due course with additional documentation to substantiate his claims of alleged state capture through the project in Limpopo. On Tuesday Mathiba confirmed having made an affidavit to the Police in Gauteng on 9 April this year for consideration by Judge Raymond Zondo and that he is prepared to testify in that regard.
In interviews with Polokwane Observer he referred to having submitted a complaint to Premier Stan Mathabatha in relation to unfair treatment in the workplace in December 2018 which, according to Mathiba, seemingly stemmed from him being verbose in his criticism of the costly broadband project in the main.
In a lengthy submission addressed to the Premier through his Chief of Staff, Mogale Nchabeleng and forwarded by email on 1 April 2019 as a follow-up to the earlier submission to Mathabatha on 3 December 2018, he remarks that the broadband tender is a candidate for criminal investigation.
In the 40-page document his biggest gripe takes shape in the form of concerns over what he refers to as “a shocking R585 million irregular broadband tender”, which allegedly is the result of disregard for the act governing the legal mandate of the State Information Technology Agency (Sita).
As he alerts the Premier on serious alleged corruption and fraud in Limpopo state organs and certain government department in his submission, he continues stating that in his opinion Sita in Limpopo could have performed the roll-out of broadband connectivity in the province, instead of Limpopo Connexion that was launched under the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism banner in March 2016 despite apparent argument against it.
“The Sita Act No 88 of 1998 as amended is clear; Sita has (a) legal mandate to implement the broadband project, and the Limpopo Connexion is (a) fraudulent and corrupt duplicate of Sita within the legal prescripts,” he states in his submission.
He further claims to have defied what he referred to as illegal instructions and demands for developing a fabricated business case to overthrow Sita, citing the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act being crystal clear on corruption and fraudulent activities.
“This scandal is not a mistake. It is a man-made disaster,” he vehemently declares.
In his second submission sent on to Nchabeleng he continues to allege that those suspected of an attempted fabricated case against him were sensing that he was going to stop the rot of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) mismanagement and malpractice. According to him he has been reduced to nothing and was rendered useless by state capture but disturbed the capture of the provincial Sita office.
In the dossier and the documents handed to Polokwane Observer, Mathiba further included a letter from Sita Chief Executive Officer Setumo Mohapi to Limpopo Director-General Nape Nchabeleng, dated 22 February 2018 and warning the provincial government and its departments not to utilise the vehicle created through Limpopo Connexion in so far as it violated the Sita Act. “It follows that the expenditure by any provincial department as a result of utilisation of this tender will be irregular. By addressing this letter, the Limpopo provincial government and its departments are in a better position to avoid irregular expenditure.”
Earlier on in his letter Mohapi mentions media reports referring to the first phase of the project worth R585 million seeing the provision of connectivity to government departments, municipalities, businesses and households over a period of three years.
In Mohapi’s letter he indicates that copies of it would have been sent to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, National Treasury, the Auditor-General and all government departments in Limpopo.
Mathiba concluded saying he had confidence in the Zondo Commission. “The public should know what happens to their funds. If I keep quiet it would haunt me for the rest of my days.”
Calls to both phones of Premier’s spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha and a message left on one of his numbers around the time of going to press remained unanswered.
Ledet spokesperson Burckels Napo commented saying MEC Seaparo Sekoati has already responded on the issue and that it was preferred for his word to be the final one on the matter. His undertaking to secure a telephonic link with him, however, has not materialised by the time of going to print.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com