Amatola Water buyer in R2m graft probe

SIU looking into claims she placed orders with firms owned by relative and companion

The Special Investigating Unit is probing an Amatola Water buyer for suspected corruption in relation to the utility s rain tank project after she allegedly issued orders worth more than R2m to companies linked to a relative and a close companion in the taxi industry.

Amatola Water spokesperson Nosisa Sogayise confirmed the investigation after a whistleblower leaked information to the Dispatch.

The whistle-blower showed the Dispatch invoices worth R600,000 in favour of a company linked to Amatola buyer Nomonde Mlungu s family member.

Another invoice, for goods valued at R1.5m, is favour of a firm owned by her companion, a taxi boss.

The Dispatch knows the names of the relative and taxi operator.

In response to questions from the Dispatch, Sogayise, said: As the institution, we are not privy to the SIU investigation until they finalise their report and hand it over to the institution. That's when we will be able “to comment.

We are aware that SIU is conducting investigations and we are co-operating.”

In government procurement terms, an order is an official, written instruction to supply goods and services.

The whistle-blower alleged Mlungu had issued a number of orders for supplies to her relatives. The whistle-blower said amid the SIU probe, a relative of Mlungu s resigned from her trading company, and added a new director from Mdantsane NU14.

Company records seen by the Dispatch confirm the resignation.

The relative did not respond to three queries, two sent via WhatsApp and one an e-mail, on Monday.

The whistle-blower said: The trading company is “owned by her relative.”

Orders seen by the Dispatch show that the first three requisitions for the trading company were issued by another buyer, while the rest 11

— orders totalling R602,782

— were allegedly issued by Mlungu.

Her orders to date to the “relative amount to just above R600,000 and the most recent orders form part of a rain tank project.

Another company, belongs to her [companion] who is a taxi owner.”

His orders, seen by the Dispatch, amount to R1.5m.

The whistle-blower said a company registered in another person s name that was managed by the companion had also won contracts as part of the Amatola Water s rain tank project.

The Dispatch sent three emails and two WhatsApp queries to the man on Monday, but at the time of writing he had not responded.

The Dispatch also put the allegations to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago who said: This investigation is ongoing.

We do not do blow-by-blow commentary of our investigations.”