Government Official found guilty of corruption in Digital Vibes case

MISA is a national government component that is accountable to the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).  

The official, Lizeka Tonjeni, was nominated as a project manager responsible for the appointment and management of the service provider after MISA awarded a tender of almost R4 million to the company, Digital Vibes, for the provision of communication services for 24 months. 

The NPA's Regional Spokesperson for the Gauteng Division, Lumka Mahanjana, says while Tonjeni was still a project manager between December 2018 and August 2020, she received payments of R160 000 that were not authorised and due to her, paid from Digital Vibes.

"After investigations by the Hawks Serious Corruption Offences (SCO), Tonjeni was arrested after she handed herself to the police at the Pretoria Central Police Station on 24 May 2022."

Tonjeni pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied the fraudulent payments. 

"In her testimony, she said, the payments received from the director of Digital Vibes Tahera Mather, were payments for weight loss and energy booster products she was selling, and as such she still owes the director of Digital Vibes R85 000, since she was unable to deliver some of the products and pay back her money."

"However, a team of prosecutors, Advocates Willem van Zyl and Phuma Dwane, called witnesses who are MISA employees, to testify and adduced evidence to prove that indeed Tonjeni was guilty of the charges preferred against her."

The matter was postponed to 06 June 2024 for sentencing proceedings.

Mahanjana goes on to say: "The NPA welcomes the conviction and wants to send a strong message that corrupt officials know that impunity is no longer a given and that dreaded knock on the door has become a realistic prospect."

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