SIU PROBE SETS OFF LOUD ALARM BELLS
Anti-corruption noose tightens on ‘ Mr Big ’
A Bhisho “big fish” is on the radar of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as it makes significant headway in its investigations into alleged personal protective equipment (PPE) tender corruption in the Eastern Cape.
In a related development this week, Eastern Cape education department director of assets management, Nandipha Tembo, resigned from her post after being identified by the SIU as an official allegedly benefiting from Covid-19 procurement deals in the province.
Tembo is suspected of using her cousin’s company, Alinani Tours (Trading), to gain from education department tenders.
She failed to respond to the Dispatch’s phone calls, text and WhatsApp messages.
Tembo is a prominent figure in the department, having being trotted out by Bhisho to explain the controversial R538m school tablet tender being investigated by the State Information Technology Agency (Sita).
Alinani Tours, owned by Sinazo Mgwangqa, received money amounting to R3m in two tranches, according to the SIU. The allegation is that Tembo used Mgwangqa’s company to bid for tenders at the department.
But according to Bhisho insiders, Tembo is one of many provincial government officials being investigated by the unit, and a “big fish” is involved.
The name of this “big fish” is known to the Dispatch, but is being withheld due to ongoing investigations.
In an October 12 SIU letter addressed to education department head Themba Kojana, the SIU said evidence suggested Tembo could have acted in a grossly dishonest manner by committing acts of misconduct.
The letter alleges she had unlawfully and intentionally held a private and financial interest in the entity, Alinani Tours, and through this entity, Tembo had been doing business with the education department.
The letter further said she “unlawfully and intentionally committed acts of corruption” in that, through the entity, she allegedly facilitated the irregular appointment of Alinani Tours by the department for the procurement of a guard (security) shed with veranda for the department’s Zwelitsha offices for R198,914,99.
She is also accused of having “unlawfully facilitated ” the irregular appointment of the entity for the supply and delivery of PPE for schools in the King William’s Town area and the company was paid an amount of R2,805, 492.60, according to the letter.
SIU advocate Andy Mothibi recommended that Tembo be placed on precautionary suspension pending finalisation of the investigation.
“It is the view of the SIU that the presence of [named] in her place of employment may interfere with the process of the SIU investigation, ” the letter said.
However, Tembo has since tendered her resignation.
A source at the education department said: “She [Tembo] is very senior in the department and if she has done this, that is stupid. The laws of this country allow a person to prove his or her innocence, but if what the SIU has found is true, the person must tell the world who she was working with.
“We suspect that she was used and there’s a big fish [very senior government official] whom we know who is also a suspect in all this procurement,” a source said.
The Dispatch visited the company’s address in Dimbaza’s Soweto township, but there was no-one on the property.
The Dispatch understands the SIU sent the letter to the education department, while premier Oscar Mabuyane has also been briefed about a number of investigations in the province.
In a joint statement released by Mabuyane ’ s office on Wednesday, the SIU confirmed that Mabuyane had received an update report on the investigations.
“These include investigations into allegations of corruption, maladministration and malfeasance against individuals working for the provincial government departments, municipalities and public entities,” the joint statement said.
It said Mabuyane had committed that the provincial government would fully co-operate with the investigations.
“Will make sure that every provincial government department, municipality and public entity fully co-operates with the investigations done by the SIU and that not internal investigations will be done by government institutions on matters being investigated by the SIU.”
Meanwhile, health MEC Sindiswa Gomba said she would go ahead with her internal investigations even after the SIU asked her to stop these probes.
Gomba had instituted an internal investigation into the appointment of five companies for the provision, supply and or delivery of PPE worth more than R150m. Allegations of corruption were suspected in awarding tenders to these companies.
Gomba, through her spokesperson Judy Ngoloyi, said she was mandated to do oversight of her department but the SIU differed, saying the investigations would continue.
Education department spokesperson Mali Mtima acknowledged receipt of the Dispatch s queries but no responses had been received at the time of writing.
[Tembo] is senior in the department and if she has done this, that is stupid ... if what the SIU has found is true, the person must tell the world who she was working with