Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) is demanding answers from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) following explosive fraud and corruption allegations surrounding a now-halted R400-million construction project that was meant to transform the institution’s Durban and Pietermaritzburg campuses.
Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi told Sunday World that he had noted the coverage relating to the serious allegations and was in the process of seeking accountability from the embattled institution.
“I have noted the news coverage and will shortly be sending detailed questions and a request for documents from the institution. That information will help the committee determine how to proceed. I have also notified the Office of the AG about the same,” said Zibi, confirming he had brought the matter to the attention of Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke.
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela mentioned earlier this week that DUT officials had informed him that an investigation was underway and that he would soon receive feedback on the scandal.
The intervention marks a significant escalation in a corruption scandal that has rocked the prestigious university, with the ambitious construction project experiencing severe delays and cost overruns running into millions of rands.
The project was meant to be completed two years ago.
It was designed as a transformative infrastructure development that will provide state-of-the-art facilities across both campuses, including modern lecture halls, laboratories, and accommodation for 800 students.
The project was seen as crucial for the university’s capacity to serve its growing student population and maintain its status as a leading tertiary institution in KwaZulu-Natal. However, the project has become mired in controversy after Sunday World exposed how contractor Brad Boertjie of BorCon Construction was allegedly handed the lucrative contract without following proper tender processes.
In a shocking admission, Boertjie acknowledged having been outrightly handed an eye-watering R76-million contract to complete the complex project without having to bid for the work.
Boertjie also lacked the necessary qualifications for such a massive undertaking, as the project requires a CIDB Level 8 to 9 grading.
For the first time, the lid is being blown off this scandal, as DUT has continuously stonewalled Sunday World’s investigations, hiding behind claims of a “sub-judice rule” regarding an arbitration process that has nothing to do with the corruption allegations against procurement employees Thabani Mhlongo and Siphelele Kweyama.
Sunday World has learned that the institution asked Mhlongo and Kweyama to explain themselves regarding the irregular procurement processes.
It is understood that their suspensions are imminent as the investigation intensifies.
The university’s attempts to deflect scrutiny have intensified, with council chairperson Wiseman Madinani failing to respond to questions sent by Sunday World.
This week, vice-chancellor Prof Thandwa Mthembu also ducked questions sent to him about the scandal.
In its latest response, DUT maintained its sub-judice position while revealing that the arbitration process had commenced. “The matter you are referring to remains sub judice; therefore, the university is currently not in a position to respond to your questions. The arbitration processes commenced this week. DUT will fully cooperate with the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, by providing any information he may require,” said the university in an email response.
The scandal deepened last week when Sunday World reported on the abrupt shutdown of the construction site by the Department of Labour after it emerged that BorCon did not possess a valid work permit.
The shutdown has effectively brought the already-troubled project to a complete standstill.
Adding to the controversy, sources indicate that Boertjie, who is meant to attend the arbitration proceedings, has been conspicuously absent from the process, raising questions about his commitment to resolving the disputes that have plagued
the project.
The parliamentary intervention through Scopa represents a critical juncture for DUT, which now faces intense scrutiny from the country’s most powerful oversight committee.
With the auditor-general also now involved, the university’s leadership will find it increasingly difficult to maintain its wall of silence around what appears to be systematic procurement irregularities that have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions while depriving students of desperately needed infrastructure.
Manamela’s office is yet to respond to questions.
