Four suspects linked to defrauding former state-owned airline South African Express have been released on bail.
Tebogo van Wyk, Nothando Dube, Sipho Levy Phiri, and Thabang Mohlokoleng face 34 counts including fraud, corruption, money-laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
They are joined in the dock by three companies Batsamai Investment Holdings, Sevilex Investment Holdings and Lavao, and Estevao.
They appeared in court following their arrests by the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit in North West in September 2022.
The arrests were as a result of a probe which revealed that in 2014, the North West government embarked on a process to reintroduce commercial aircraft to the province’s two airports in Mahikeng and Pilanesberg on a subsidy of about R400-million.
The provincial government allegedly appointed SA Express to render services, but this was done without following proper supply chain management processes.
Between 2015 and 2017, an amount of R183-million was then paid to SA Express for services rendered by ground management companies, which Van Wyk, Dube and Phiri were associated with.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the irregularly secured agreement is said to have been signed by the accused.
Mohlokoleng signed on behalf of the provincial department of transport as its then accounting officer and head of department.
NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the office of the national director of public prosecutions has also authorized more charges of racketeering to be added to the charge sheet and for the matter to be centralised, as some offences were committed in Gauteng.
“The state alleges that of the R183-million, an amount of R51-million was channeled irregularly through the charged companies,” said Mamothame.
“The deal was allegedly riddled with procurement irregularities and monies were paid for services not rendered.
“All companies appointed to do ground-handling services were indirectly owned by Dube and Phiri.
“The irregularities prejudiced the North West government of millions of rands that could have been directed to service delivery.”
Van Wyk is out on R500 000 bail, R35 000 for Dube, R150 000 for Phiri, and Mohlokoleng was released on R50 000 bail.
Their bail conditions state that they should not evade court on their next appearance, refrain from interfering with witnesses, and inform the investigating officer should they wish to leave their areas of residence.
The case has been postponed January for pre-trial conferencing with expectations for trial to begin on May 13 2024.
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