The case involving three top managers who worked in the office of the chief justice (OCJ) has been postponed to February.
The trio appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday after handing themselves over to police in Midrand for allegedly contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Former director of court operations Yvonne van Niekerk, Nkosikhona Mncube, who was the OCJ spokesman, as well as chief director of court administration and former chief financial officer and bid adjudication committee chairperson, Casper Coetzer, were in the dock.
They are accused of illegally using their positions to negotiate and award an information technology contract worth R225-million to international media and technology company Thomson Reuters.
Trio listed as ZAC directors
The contract was related to the national online caselines management system.
The system is a cloud-based platform that can be accessed on any laptop or tablet with internet access to allow judges and legal teams the opportunity to efficiently and securely prepare, collate, redact, share and present evidence or legal bundles, documentary and video evidence in a single online system.
Further allegations are that during negotiations to renew the contract for caselines online management system, Coetzer appointed Van Niekerk and Mncube for the bid specification committee and price negotiations, respectively, with the intention of successfully negotiating a bid for a subcontract to a company called ZA Square Consulting (ZAC).
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), investigations revealed that the trio was listed as directors in ZAC.
“They all stood to benefit 30% stemming from the R225-million contract they were negotiating on behalf of the OCJ,” said Phindi Mjonondwane, spokesperson for NPA.
The investigations further established that though the accused disclosed that they were the directors of ZAC, they indicated that the company was dormant.
They were released on R10 000 bail, respectively and will return to court on February 7 for disclosure of the docket to the accused.
