Day: June 7, 2022

North West Legislature SCOPA to hold MFMA Public Hearing with Rustenburg Local Municipality over 2020/21 Audit Report

The North West Provincial Legislature’ Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts will hold Municipal Finance Management Act public hearing with Rustenburg Local Municipality for the 2020/21 audit report.

The meeting is scheduled as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 08 June 2022

Time: 10h30 – 12h30

Venue: Legislature Auditorium

The Mayor, Speaker and Councillors of Rustenburg Local Municipality together with senior management are expected to attend the meeting.

The meeting will be live streamed on the North West Provincial Legislature Facebook page.

Members of the Media who would like to attend the meeting can contact Ms. Namhla Luhabe on 079 527 0628.

Issued by: North West Provincial Legislature: Media & Communications Unit on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts – Hon. Job Dliso.

Source: Government of South Africa

North West Legislature SCOPA to hold MFMA Public hearing with Rustenburg Local Municipality over 2020/21 Audit Report

The North West Provincial Legislature’ Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts will hold Municipal Finance Management Act public hearing with Rustenburg Local Municipality for the 2020/21 audit report.

The meeting is scheduled as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 08 June 2022

Time: 10h30 – 12h30

Venue: Legislature Auditorium

The Mayor, Speaker and Councillors of Rustenburg Local Municipality together with senior management are expected to attend the meeting.

The meeting will be live streamed on the North West Provincial Legislature Facebook page.

Members of the Media who would like to attend the meeting can contact Ms. Namhla Luhabe on 079 527 0628.

Issued by: North West Provincial Legislature: Media & Communications Unit on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts – Hon. Job Dliso.

Source: Government of South Africa

Hamilton Ndlovu and associated companies ordered to pay back R158 million

Nineteen (19) personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders amounting to R172 million awarded by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) to Johannesburg businessman Hamilton Ndlovu and associated companies have been declared invalid and unlawful.

On Tuesday 07 June 2022, the Special Tribunal set aside the contracts and ordered that Mr. Ndlovu and associated companies pay back R158 millions with interest.

Furthermore, the Special Tribunal ordered that frozen properties and funds held by Mr. Ndlovu, Zaisan Kaihatsu and Bugatti Security Services and Projects to the value of R42 million be forfeited to the state.

The Special Tribunal urged NHLS to invoke section 15 of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act to list the Bugatti Security Services and Projects, Hamiltonn Ndlovu Holdings, Hamiltonn Projects CC, Mok Plus One PTY LTD, Abompetha PTY LTD, Feliham PTY LTD and Kgodumo Mokone Trading Enterprise PTY LTD, their directors, shareholders and Luiborn Dorn Ndlovu in his capacity as a director in the Joritans Logistics PTY LTD on the database of restricted suppliers.

The SIU investigated corruption allegations and the circumstances in which eight companies directly and indirectly linked to Mr. Ndlovu had obtained contracts worth a total of R172 742 275 for PPE from the NHLS.

The SIU was, in terms of Proclamation R.23 of 2020, directed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption, malpractice, maladministration and irregularities in the procurement of goods and services during the COVID-19 state of disaster.

The SIU investigation established that the contracts were obtained by abusing the emergency procurement procedures that were adopted by the NHLS in order to respond to the COVID-19 disaster during the first half of 2020.

Eight (8) companies obtained contracts to supply PPE to the NHLS during this period, which were all linked to Mr. Ndlovu. He was the controlling mind of all the front companies and the direct and indirect beneficiary of the funds flowing to them from the payments made by the NHLS.

The links and interrelationships between the front companies and the fact that they were all controlled by Mr. Ndlovu were not disclosed to the NHLS. The companies operated jointly as part of an unlawful scheme directed by Mr. Ndlovu and under the pretense that they were independent entities. Instead of operating at arm’s length and in competition with each other to supply PPE to the NHLS at the best available prices, the companies were a front whereby Mr. Ndlovu could obtain multiple contracts from the NHLS at excessive prices without revealing his involvement in each of them.

The front companies under the control of Mr. Ndlovu exploited the emergency procurement process by supplying PPE to the NHLS at excessive prices and failed to deliver the agreed quantities of PPE.

The SIU obtained and analysed the bank statements of the front companies and of Mr. Ndlovu and of other companies and individuals linked to him. The analysis showed that, with the exception of an amount of about R15m that appears to have been used for the purchase of PPE, the funds received from the NHLS were not used to obtain supplies of PPE in order to deliver upon the contracts to the NHLS. Instead, the vast majority of the funds (87.87%) flowed to Mr. Ndlovu for his own use.

The SIU welcomes the order of the Special Tribunal. This is a continuation of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover assets and financial losses suffered by State institutions and/or to prevent further losses.

Source: Government of South Africa

More housing projects to be unblocked

The North West Department of Human Settlements will after completing an audit of all blocked projects across the province, complete 247 as a plan to eradicate the challenge in the province for this financial year.

The MEC for Human Settlements, Lenah Miga, made the announcement when tabling her department’s budget speech vote at the provincial legislature recently. MEC Miga informed the legislature that after traveling throughout the province she was greeted by incomplete structures dating back many years and some of these structures are repairable while others need complete demolition and rebuilding.

“This backlog is influenced by different aspects which includes: Non-performance by contractors; a hike in the costs of materials; and the non-increasing of the housing quantum. For that my department has prioritised unblocking of blocked project and make sure that those legible receive what is due to them”, said Miga.

She further said that the National Department has after the careful consideration, managed to increase the quantum by 20.9 percent from R116 867 to R141 200 and the applicable subsidy commenced as of 01st April 2022. According to the MEC this shows that the department remain consistent and more determined to continue and improve service delivery in the province.

The MEC further outline the department’s commitment to eradicate the ever increasing number of informal settlements especially around the mining towns in the province. She said that her department will fast track the process of upgrading informal settlements across the province to ensure provision of housing.

The MEC however said that, it is not all settlements that will be upgraded. Others are planned to be upgraded within the Medium Term Expenditure Framework through the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant.

Source: Government of South Africa

DURBAN – With the rise in contact crimes in the province, police continued with efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of crime are brought to book. During the month of May, police operations were intensified across the province to eradicate crime and to recover the illegal firearms in the hands of criminals.

As from 01 May until 31 May 2022, 9312 perpetrators were arrested for various crimes. This includes 195 suspects who were arrested for murder, 124 for attempted murder, 231 for rape, 1844 for assault, 33 for carjacking, 231 for burglary, 288 for malicious damage to property, 289 for driving under the influence of liquor, 322 for robberies and 24 for stock theft. Police seized a large quantity of stolen vehicles, vehicle parts and motorcycles.

During this period, police issued traffic fines to those who are failing to adhere to the National Road Traffic Act, whilst second hand goods dealers were charged for failing to comply with the Second Hands Goods Act as well as municipal bylaws. Police recovered large amounts of drugs, dangerous weapons, house breaking implements and cattle during these operations. Police seized 338 firearms, ammunition amounting to 3297 were also seized during police operations.

We urge communities to become actively involved in Community Police Forums so that they can play a constructive role in ridding their neighbourhoods of criminals. Citizens who may have information that can assist in solving crimes are requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or utilise the MYSAPS app.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOM – In a bid to reduce levels of serious commercial crimes, the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in conjunction with Klerksdorp Tactical Response Team (TRT) arrested Masenki Joseph Mosokotsane (52) and Tuweng Isaac Taje (54), for fraud, theft and possession of counterfeit notes during a crime intelligence led operation on Thursday, 2 June 2022.

The arrest came after intelligence was received that the accused were conspiring to commit fraud at Potchefstroom Post Office. Reportedly, the accused arrived at the Post Office and one of them conducted a fraudulent transaction. He allegedly transferred money (R30 000.00) from the victim’s account into his. However, the long arm of the law caught up with him and his accomplice soon after the transaction. The police managed during the arrest, to seize three cell phones, SASSA card, Postbank cash receipt book belonging to the victim, two Post Office receipts indicating money transferred from the victim’s account into the accused’s, two bank withdrawal receipts and 2 x R200.00 fake notes.

The accused were remanded in custody following their brief appearance before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court yesterday. They are expected to make their second court appearance on Thursday, 09 June 2022, for a formal bail application.

Source: South African Police Service

A South African Police Service (SAPS) Captain has been jailed for bribery.

The Captain was arrested during a joint undercover operation by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID).

Captain Shange (58) from public order policing was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment last week after he was found guilty of soliciting a bribe from an undercover anti-corruption agent.

In a statement, the RTMC said Shange’s arrest and conviction followed an investigation initiated by the RTMC’s anti-corruption unit in April 2021.

“The investigation was prompted by a barrage of complaints from members of the public who alleged that law enforcement officers were extorting bribes from motorists south of Gauteng.

“Anti-corruption unit members followed up on the allegations and ascertained that corruption was taking place in an operation conducted by members of the SAPS,” read the statement.

The RTMC said an undercover agent was assigned and proceeded to a roadblock conducted by members of the SAPS in Observatory, Johannesburg. The officer was stopped by Shange who demanded a bribe from the undercover agent for a traffic violation.

Money exchanged hands and Shange was arrested on the scene by the joint team. He was then detained at Yeoville police cells.

On 27 May 2022, Shange was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment after the testimonies of team members were presented in the magistrate’s court.

“It is shameful that a ranking officer should go down in such disgraceful circumstances so close to retirement. We thank our team for demonstrating their willingness to enforce ethical conduct on the roads regardless of who is involved and what their rank is.

“All citizens are equal before the law,” said RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi.

Source: South African Government News Agency