Former ANC spokesperson Mabe expected in court for Gauteng 'karretjie' tender
Former ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe is expected to appear before the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Hawks confirmed that seven suspects, including high-ranking officials, company directors, and a former member of Parliament, handed themselves over to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Gauteng on Wednesday morning.
The suspects are expected to be charged with fraud, theft, and contravention of the Public Funds Management Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Their arrest follows a forensic report by the Specialised Investigating Unit into a tender of around R27 million issued by the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department. It was then awarded to a company linked to Mabe in March 2017.
The Gauteng Department of Agriculture tender was for the supply of 200 three-wheeler motorbikes intended for nearly 60 waste pickers in the City of Ekurhuleni.
“The contract agreement between the Department and Enviro- Mobi stipulated that the Department may consider to pay on condition that 50% of the work has been completed and no upfront payments may be made to the service provider,” said Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo.
“During investigation it was established that the Chief Director and Chief Financial Officer processed and paid over R25 million to Enviro-Mobi for 200 motorised three-wheelers, though all goods were still in the possession of the service provider,”
It’s alleged the company concealed Mabe’s directorship, as he was an MP when the tender was awarded.
“It was also discovered that the service provider later issued a letter of demand to the Department demanding a further payment of over R9 million for safekeeping, storage and ancillary services relating to the fleet. Also, that the company failed to disclose in its bid proposal, its affiliation to the politician who was a member of Parliament (MP) and misrepresented to the Department that it had supplied the fleet as well as fleet-related services,” Mbambo added.
The matter was referred to the SIU by then-Gauteng premier David Makhura, following a forensic report that revealed fraudulent activity by some government departments.
A case was registered at the Johannesburg Central police station in October 2020, which prompted an investigation by the Hawks.
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