The court case involving former ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe and his co-accused was rescheduled for July so that the state could provide the accused’s attorneys with the final charge sheet.
Mabe (44), his wife Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe (46), Loyiso Mkwana (51), Thandeka Mbassa (59), Matilda Gasela (65), Abdullah Mohamed Ismail (50), and Mabe’s business associate Tinyiko Mahuntsi (46) appeared at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
All seven accused are currently out on R30 000 bail each.
They are charged with theft, fraud, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act in relation to an alleged illegal R27-million contract awarded to Mabe’s company in 2017.
Additionally charged in this case are Mabe’s companies, Star Mass Direct (formerly known as Kariki Media Holdings) and KGP Media Holdings (formerly known as Enviro Mobi and later as Groen Mintirho).
The accusations are related to alleged corruption in a 2017 tender that was allegedly unlawfully awarded to Mabe’s Enviro Mobi company.
Case postponed to July 7
State prosecutor Magdeline Montwedi-Mclean informed magistrate Brian Nemavhidi during Tuesday’s court proceedings that the defence and state had reached an agreement to postpone the case until July 7 so that the state could provide the accused’s attorneys with the final charge sheet.
The state agreed to provide the final charge sheet to the accused by June 30 at the latest, as agreed upon by the defence and the state. Nemavhidi put the case on hold until July 7.
He added that the accused may be given a trial date when they appear in court on July 7. Prominent lawyer Zola Majavu represents Mabe, his wife, and their companies.
Mabe’s company, Enviro Mobi, was allegedly given a contract by the Gauteng agriculture and rural development department in March 2017 to supply 200 tuk-tuks, which are three-wheeled motorised waste-collection vehicles.
The tuk-tuks were supposed to help Ekurhuleni’s 58 waste pickers.
Investigations, however, revealed that Mabe’s company had been wrongfully paid R27 231 750 “without any service rendered”.
Phindi Mjonondwane, the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, stated that the charges against the accused are related to the investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Hawks into a 2017 tender.
It was to provide 200 tuk-tuks, or three-wheeled waste collection vehicles, along with more than R6 million for storage expenses. The department covered the cost.
Ten companies submitted proposals
According to Mjonondwane, the department posted a waste management tender on February 10, 2017. Proposals were requested for the formalisation and integration of Gauteng waste SMMEs into the waste management economy.
She stated that Enviro Mobi was among the 10 companies that submitted proposals to the department. Mabe served as Enviro Mobi’s director from September 2010 to August 2014.
“He was also a signatory on the business account of KGP Media Holdings, trading as Enviro Mobi. The state alleges that Makwana, Mbassa, and Ismail facilitated the appointment of Enviro Mobi, represented by Pule Mabe,” said Mjonondwane.
“It further alleges that, at the time of the tender award, these companies lacked the necessary expertise. And furthermore, Enviro Mobi allegedly indicated that it had no affiliation with any governmental official and/or member of Parliament.
“From March 2017, Enviro Mobi allegedly submitted invoices worth over R26-million. These were not accompanied by any supporting documentation detailing services rendered or work done.
“Despite this, payments were allegedly authorised by Mkwana and Ismail. These invoices allegedly included payments for tuk-tuks that were paid without any proof of delivery.”
Auditor-general’s findings
According to her, the auditor-general discovered that the department had made false claims in its yearly financial reports. This was for the year to March 31, 2018.
It showed that the department made over R27-million in advance payments during the 2017–2018 fiscal year.
However, the department’s accounting records incorrectly recorded them as expenses instead of advance payments.
In November 2024, the SIU requested a preservation order from the Special Tribunal against Groen Mintirho (formerly Enviro Mobi), a company connected to Mabe, in relation to purported procurement irregularities involving the department and the City of Ekurhuleni.
The SIU’s order prohibits Mabe from leasing, selling, transferring, or otherwise dealing with certain assets that he owns, such as a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS luxury car and an immovable property in Steyn City, Gauteng.
