It’s hands up for top cops
Tender probe nets 42 so far, sparking death threats
SA’s top cop has revealed how criminal networks have infiltrated senior police ranks — and that efforts to expose them have sparked death threats and sent witnesses into protective custody.
National police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole told the Sunday Times that 42 people, including a number of police officers, have been arrested in the past two years for alleged corruption linked to the awarding of two police tenders.
His comments follow the arrest of his second-incommand, human resources divisional commissioner Lt-Gen Bonang Mgwenya, on Monday.
Mgwenya, charged with corruption, theft and money-laundering, was nabbed in a raid on her luxury Pretoria East home, in connection with a R191m police vehicle blue-light tender.
“Right nowthere is a serious risk to the destruction of evidence, and investigators’, prosecutors’ and witnesses’ lives. We expect threats to grow,” Sitole said.
Given the level of danger, he said, threat assessments have been done onwitnesses, investigators and prosecutors, with some witnesses being moved to protective custody.
The blue-light contract, awarded in 2017, was for the fitment of lights to 1,500 Gauteng vehicles. Only 500 lights were fitted.
Investigators from the South African Police Service (SAPS) national anti-corruption task team and the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate captured Mgwenya as she finished her morning jog through the luxury Clearwater Fly Fishing Estate in Pretoria, where, according to her affidavit, she lives.
Mgwenya’s R1.2m BMW was seized by investigators, who allege it was a kickback.
Deeds searches showthat since 2019 Mgwenya has also listed another Pretoria East house and a home in Centurion as her residences.
She was granted R20,000 bail by the Palm Ridge magistrate’s court.
As her home was raided, investigators searched her offices, seizing documents and computers.
Nine senior officers including Mgwenya were arrested for the blue-light tender.
Her co-accused include former national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane; ex-Gauteng police commissioner Deliwe de Lange; her deputy, Nombhuruza Napo, and senior supply chain management (SCM) and technology management officers Col Thomas Dumas Marima, Brig James Ramanjalum and retired Lt-Gen Ramahlapi Mokwena.
Mokwena was the previous SCM divisional commander.
Ramanjalum, Mokwena and Marima are also charged in connection with the alleged irregular awarding of a R56m police vehicle markings tender.
On Saturday, Mgwenya said: “As indicated through court documents, I’m innocent and I’m confident that I will be cleared of the charges against me. I’ve dedicated my life to the police. My record in the SAPS speaks for itself. Serious charges were put against me last year and I was put on suspension. I was cleared of those charges by a tribunal.”
Ramanjalum, Mokwena and Marima either did not respond to requests to comment or declined to do so.
Mgwenya, according to the indictment, is alleged to have used her position to appoint a police officer to SCM to ensure the R191m contract was awarded to Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement.
Prosecutors allege Mgwenya’s co-accused selected officers to sit on bid evaluation and bid adjudication teams to award the tenders. Sources say nearly R600m worth of tenders relating to the procurement of supplies for SAPS forensics, technology and SCM divisions were targeted.
“We started with three arrests. Nowwe are at 42 [for the two investigations],” said Sitole.
“They are not the only ones we will arrest.
Senior officers are on the radar.”
He said he was in his position for a purpose.
“When I came to this office [in 2017] I discovered senior ranks were infiltrated by criminals and that public money was being stolen.
“I zeroed in on the crime intelligence, SCM, forensics and technology divisions, which were contaminated.
“When you start with corruption, you are a criminal. You infiltrate, expand and develop networks.” Sitole said he was focusing not just on the junior ranks, but also senior ranks, “who are often the root of the rot. Seniors often exploit their juniors.” He said the investigations are being guided by forensic audits.
“A review of all SAPS books are under way. We are working with Treasury, the auditor-general and internal and external forensic audits. Their recommendations led to these arrests.”
He said one never expected “to take action against our left and right hands”. There is stiff resistance to the clean-up, said Sitole.
Asked about threats to investigators and prosecutors, Investigating Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala said: “We are very aware of the dangerous position our team faces. The battle is far from won.”
She said that in exchange for allegedly manipulating the tender, Mgwenya “received gratification in the form of a courtesy vehicle for 15 months, a discount of R284,580 from the car dealership and assistance in the form of payment of R440,000 towards the purchase of a BMW X5 for R1.2m.”