EASTERN CAPE - The former Sakhisizwe municipal manager (59), municipal project manager (45) and the director of a civil engineering company (42) are expected to appear in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 30 June 2022. This follows the arrest of the trio by the East London based Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation for charges of fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.

It is alleged that during the 2017 and 2018 financial year, Sakhisizwe Local Municipality embarked on a sports field uplifting project in Elliot Town. The project was allocated R12 million. The tender was advertised and companies submitted their documents for bidding.

It is alleged that the bidding committee nominated the deserving company and forwarded the name to the municipal manager at the time who is reported to have changed the name without providing reasons to the treasury.

A civil engineering company which was also appointed for quantification is alleged to have escalated the costs thus exceeding the budget by more than R4.9 million.

It is reported that the auditor general discovered the discrepancy and a complaint was lodged with the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in East London for probing in August 2019.

The trio is expected to make its first appearance in court today after their arrest on 29 June 2022. More arrests are imminent.

Source: South African Police Service