R 1.7million tender fraud case against Rustenburg Municipal former employees postponed
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The state says they are ready to proceed with a case against a man who used his company to defraud the Rustenburg Local Municipality of R 1.7million in tender fraud.
The case involves 45 years old Sello Michael Makhubela and two former Rustenburg Municipal employees Obakeng Glen Mokgale and Orebotse James Tlale aged 39 and 40.
It is said according to Henry Mamothame from the NPA that the trio is facing four counts of fraud.
“These charges relate to a tender which was awarded by the Rustenburg Local Municipality, for high mast lights to be installed at the Kanana phase 2 and Robega phase 2, in Rustenburg. All procurement processes were duly followed for the tender to be awarded.”
“Investigations reveal that the tender was awarded to Makhubela’s company that was not compliant, owing to the fraudulent documents that were submitted in order to be awarded the tender. The two were notified of the noncompliance, but continued to recommend for the tender to be awarded to the said company.”
Mamothame added that Makhubela is said to have submitted fraudulent invoices which saw the municipality losing R 1.7million.
Instituted internal disciplinary processes were instituted by municipality which resulted in the dismissal of the two, and criminal charges were subsequently registered.
The State said investigations into the matter are completed and the state is ready to proceed with trial.
The matter was postponed to September 28th, 2023 for consultation and disclosures with a new legal attorney, before the matter is transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for trial. The attorneys who previously represented them withdrew on record, and the three will be represented by one attorney.
The court granted each of them R30 000 bail and they were warned not to interfere with the state’s witnesses, and to avail themselves for the next court sitting. Mokgale and Tlale were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on Wednesday, 19 July 2023 and made their first court appearance on the same day, while Makhubela made his first court appearance on 31 July 2023, after handing himself over to the police.
