Top officials face arrest for ignoring Hawks order

AN ARREST warrant has been issued for a number of senior Buffalo City Metro officials and directors of a private company after they failed to hand themselves over to a newly formed Hawks task team.

The team is investigating corruption in several Eastern Cape municipalities and the suspects form part of a group of nine under investigation for fraud and corruption.

It is alleged they defrauded the metro of R15-million in a fake deal.

The suspects were supposed to appear in court on Friday, however they instead sent legal representatives and did not turn up themselves.

Times Media has it on good authority that former Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukisa Faku is among the nine suspects.

The fraudulent transaction is alleged to have taken place during Faku’s tenure as BCM mayor.

But Faku said yesterday she was not aware that she had to appear in court.

“Had I known I would have gone to court. I didn’t know about that or that I am being investigated,” Faku said.

“How was I involved in these allegations about this company they are investigating? What interference did I make?” she asked.

The warrant of arrest comes after Ndodana Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd was paid R15-million for an allegedly fake job.

According to Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, municipal officials were among those who benefited from the fraudulent deal.

NCE owner Monde Webster Ndodana, 63, was granted R30 000 bail by the East London Magistrate’s court on Friday after he was the only one who handed himself in to the Hawks earlier that day.

According to the Hawks, the case has been postponed to May 2.

It is also believed that Ndodana’s wife, Mandisa Dawn Ndodana, former metro supply chain manager Mkhuseli Ciyo, Mninawa Mketo and Pumeza Lujabe and three other people are among the suspects who failed to appear in court on Friday.

The warrant of arrest was issued by the court after the eight failed to show up.

“The outstanding eight suspects chose to abscond and instead send only their legal representatives to appear on their behalf,” Mulaudzi said.

“The suspects, who are subject to a fraud and corruption investigation, were duly informed last week and given ample time to present themselves.”

The national head of the Hawks, Lieutenant-General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, has ordered that the suspects surrender themselves to the task team members to avoid further embarrassment.