Mandela funds official caught in IT tender row
Controversial Eastern Cape official Marion Mbina-Mthembu, who was recently implicated in the looting of state funds meant for the memorial and funeral services for Nelson Mandela, is involved in a tender scandal involving R171-million.
Mbina-Mthembu presides over the office of the premier, which approved an IT contract despite instructions from the National Treasury not to do so.
The payment was earmarked for Cape Town-based Liquid Telecom for the provision of broadband services.
Mbina-Mthembu wanted the company to piggyback on an existing similar contract with the Western Cape provincial government, in terms of Treasury regulations.
But Treasury acting chief procurement officer Willie Mathebula rejected the request, citing illegalities.
The payment was processed but was halted by the provincial treasury before payment could be made.
Contacted for comment, Mbina-Mthembu said no payment had been made to the company, but refused to comment on whether the provincial government had a contract with Liquid Telecom.
Liquid Telecom CEO Kyle Whitehill said there was a contract, but confirmed no payment had been received.
Eastern Cape provincial treasury spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said they were aware of the request from the office of the premier to deviate from tender procedures, but did not know what the Treasury’s response had been.
Sogayise confirmed that the provincial treasury had not approved payment and was assessing documentation.
Provincial government spokeswoman Mandisa Titi said that in terms of the Public Finance Management Act there was a difference between a deviation and piggybacking, and Mbina-Mthebu was using her discretion when she opted to piggyback.
“The director-general . . . is empowered to use her discretion . . .”