MEC FACES 15-YEAR JAIL TERM
Malakoane and five co-accused ‘ in R13m tender fraud ’
A FREE State MEC who handed himself over to police yesterday could be jailed for up to 15 years if found guilty.
Provincial health MEC Dr Benny Malakoane and five others yesterday handed themselves over to the police following an investigation into a R13-million tender.
The tender was awarded to a telecommunications company called Gastener for the period 2007 to 2010 while Malakoane was still the Machabeng municipality manager.
Five of the accused were released on R20 000 bail each while the other was released on R5 000 bail at the Welkom Magistrate’s Court.
Their next court appearance is on November 29. The six have been charged with money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
According to Hawks spokesman Paul Ramaloko, the accused, if found guilty, could spend over 15 years in prison. “They received hundreds of thousands of rands in kickbacks.
“The company was given a tender by the municipality to install telephone lines and photocopying machines,” Ramaloko said.
“We have a clear-cut case and there was no reason from our side to surprise them. They were even aware that we were investigating them.”
Malakoane, Machabeng municipality ’ s chief financial officer, his personal assistant as well as three company directors handed themselves over to the police yesterday morning.
Ironically, Malakoane recently lambasted officials in his department who bent rules for their own benefit, saying: “This is the only department I know of where people who have been placed on suspensions can lift their own suspensions.
“And this is the only department where people who have been dismissed can reinstate themselves.”
Spokesman for the department of health Mondli Mvambi, when asked about the case, sounded surprised and said he knew nothing about it.
“I don’t know anything about that. I spoke to the MEC last night (Tuesday) and this morning (yesterday). I don’t know anything about what you are saying,” he said.