KAROO NEWS - According to the Hawks, the Makhanda High Court on 16 May confirmed that the R165-million restraining order against the Eastern Cape Amathole District Municipality officials, company directors and their businesses, remains in place.
The accused are charged with fraud, corruption, money laundering, assisting another to benefit from proceeds of unlawful activities and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
The restraining order granted to the Asset Forfeiture Unit deffectively freezes all the assets of the accused.
Ntsokolo Chris Magwangqana (64), Nkosinathi Rooseveld Soga (62), Mpumelelo Vincent Shezi (45), Lulama Taleni (45), Ongama Mahlawe (55), Goodman Ntandazo Vimba (46), Bongani Mpeluza (50), Eddison Vuyani Gaga (37), Hellen Busisiwe Kwinana-Boadi (54) and Lovemore Khativhu (41) are all out on bail.
Captain Yolisa Mgolodela of the EC Hawks says 10 years ago in 2013, Amathole District Municipality embarked on an Accelerated Sanitation Programme where 66 700 ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets in various villages were to be erected. An amount of R631-million was allocated for the project and Siyenza Group was appointed to execute the project.
Mgolodela says it is alleged that after the payment of the first trench, National Treasury lodged a complaint that Siyenza Group has submitted two false tax certificates prior to winning the tender.
Investigations ensued and more than R149-million was traced to a number of accounts. This was besides a house worth R16-million bought by the director of Siyenza Group – allegedly using funds for the project.
The money and the house were confiscated and the provisional restraint order was granted on 2 December 2019 after the suspects’ arrest on 22 November 2019.
The case has been remanded to 20 September 2023 as some of the accused have lodged representations with the National Director of Public Prosecution, says Mgolodela.
The joint effort of the Special Investigation Unit Task Team of Anti-Corruption, East London Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and the office of the National Prosecuting Authority is commended by the Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya.
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