Former MP and seven others arrested for alleged tender corruption

Seven people – including a former Member of Parliament – have been arrested for alleged corruption related to a R27 million tender.

The seven were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Gauteng on Wednesday morning.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said the arrests were related to the awarding of a 2016 tender at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD).

“Their arrest follows a forensic report by the Special Investigating Unit [SIU], which discovered that in October 2016, the [GDARD] issued a tender requesting proposals to integrate and formalise waste operatives… into the mainstream waste management economy. A tender of around R27 million was then awarded to Enviro-Mobi in March 2017.

“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.

“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,” Mbambo said.

The suspects are expected to face charges of fraud, theft, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and Prevention of Organised Crime Act.