While millions of people across the country fought to stay alive during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, high-ranking officials in Mpumalanga went on a looting spree, splurging millions on ghost fumigations and creating fictional food supply services.
Now the clock is ticking on the fate of the officials who colluded with dodgy companies to steal millions under the guise of fumigating libraries during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This follows instructions from Premier Mandla Ndlovu for the provincial executive council
(exco) to act on a damning Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report within 90 days.
The SIU has also instituted litigation processes to recover nearly R4-million from companies implicated in the alleged corruption.
President Cyril Ramaphosa first mandated the SIU to investigate the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation following allegations that millions were squandered.
This happened while children stayed home and health workers ran out of personal protective equipment (PPE).
“The investigation was based on a Presidential proclamation, which gave the SIU the powers to conduct it,” said provincial government spokesperson George Mthethwa, in a post-exco statement this week. “It sought to ascertain whether the procurement process of PPE complied with applicable legislation during Covid-19.”
What the SIU uncovered was a blueprint of deceit – fake quotations, inflated invoices, non-existent services and a complete disregard for public finance laws.
One company, Silvex 622, received R1 099 560 to fumigate 44 libraries. However, according to the SIU, two of the three quotations used to award the job were fabricated.
Another contractor, Guwena Construction & Projects, was paid R865 536 for catering.
Neither Guwena nor the department could provide proof that any food was ever delivered.
The rot goes deeper. Igugulwethusande Trading charged nearly R300 000 to fumigate 32 libraries. The SIU found the company had overcharged the state by R109 900.
Siyanda & Thabo scored a R1-million contract, but again, there was no evidence that any of the services billed for were ever rendered.
“The scope of the investigation included, amongst others, the fumigation of various libraries and the quantity of delivered scanners and masks,” Mthethwa explained.
In some cases, service certificates were signed off by officials without documentation.
The procurement process was manipulated to avoid oversight, and internal controls were flat-out ignored.
According to Mthethwa, some of the spaces fumigated were too small for the amounts claimed.
“The investigation concluded, amongst others, that the fumigated areas of the square meters in the libraries were quoted on a bigger size than their actual size,” he said.
“The report further concluded that the orders for the payment of the PPEs were split, and this constituted a violation of supply chain and management practices and the Public Finance Management Act.”
Ndlovu’s exco has now adopted the report and pledged to act against the head of department, Godfrey Ntombela, who was flagged for failing to enforce
accountability as the accounting officer.
“The exco approved the report and expressed commitment to implement the recommendations, which include instituting disciplinary action against all implicated officials and the head of department,” Mthethwa confirmed.
