Municipal employee falls for a trap after soliciting R 100K bribery for tender

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NPA in KZN have confirmed a 10 years imprisonment of a 45 years old Nhlakanipho Wiseman Dlamini who was employed by Msunduzi Municipality as acting Fleet Control Advisor.

His conviction came as a result of guilty verdict on two counts of corruption of Procuring of tenders and Corrupt Activities Relating to Public Officials. He committed these offences between November 2019 and January 2020.

It is said according to court documentation that a company by the name of EWCop was contracted to supply and maintain vehicle tracking devices for the municipal vehicles. During 2018, EWCop’s contract with the Municipality ended, and the contract was subsequently extended on a month-to-month basis pending the outcome of the award for a new tender.

A trap was set up in section 252 A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, for Dlamini after he contacted the company soliciting a bribery of R 100K for him to ensure that the tender is secured awarded back to them. He fell for the trap and was arrested shortly after accepting the money.

This evidence of the Section 252A trap and the related audio recordings formed part of the state’s case, presented by Adv. Reenai Ramouthar. Dlamini was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts of corruption.

Six years from count 2 was ordered to run concurrently with the sentence in count 1, resulting in an effective sentence of 10 years imprisonment.