At least two political parties in the North West have laid criminal charges with the Hawks against Mahikeng municipal manager Adv Dineo Mongwaketse and manager in the office of the mayor, Lekgowa Mahole, over the R100-million tenders scandal exposed by the Sunday World two weeks ago.
Additionally, the DA has filed a notice of motion this week to suspend Mongwaketse and tomorrow’s council meeting is set to discuss the issue.
In the notice to suspend the municipal manager, seen by this newspaper, DA councillor, Arista-Louise Annandale, asked mayor Tshepiso Mphehlo to consider accepting the notice so Mongwaketse can be investigated for “misconduct”.
Annandale also joined EFF councillor Gosekwang Sehole in opening a criminal case with the Hawks in Mmabatho against Mongwaketse and Mahole.
The two councillors laid charges for corruption and contravention of the municipal finance laws.
In a statement, the EFF stated unequivocally that Mongwaketse re-advertised the security tender to accommodate BLTnP Security, a company “linked to her friend Mahole”
Sunday World reported two weeks ago that Mongwaketse signed off appointment letters for tenders worth more than R100-million to two companies linked to Mahole.
One of the companies is BLTnP Security, which was awarded a three-year contract worth R63 188 132.40 in March. At the time of contract award, the company lacked a VAT registration with South African Revenue Service (Sars).
Mongwaketse told Sunday World that “there is no law that dictates that service
providers who are not VAT registered should not participate in any bid.”
BLTnP Security was also appointed without any council resolution. A move Mongwaketse also justified.
“The appointment of service providers is purely an administrative matter that is squarely within the powers and functions of the accounting officer, and as such, council resolution is not a requirement,” she said.
In its initial bid document, BLTnP Security used Mahole’s physical address in Golfview, Mahikeng, as its address.
Mongwaketse said neither she nor Mahole were aware of the Hawks’ investigation.
“These allegations are not only new but are foreign to the municipality; neither the municipality nor the municipal manager or Mahole are aware of this alleged corruption investigation, and as such, we cannot comment on something we do not have knowledge of.”
Mongwaketse also signed off a R29 571 692.78 tender in February last year to build a Mmabatho sports facility for the Global Extensive Network Project, a business joint venture where Alphons Makhoba, a cousin to Mahole, is a director.
Makhoba is also a director of Mphoentle Investments, a company that Mahole used to own but from which she resigned in February 2023, just days after the contract was awarded.
Mphoentle Investments is also registered in Mahole’s physical address, the same one used by BLTnP Security.
Makhoba confirmed that he was indeed Mahole’s cousin and that Mahole “gave” him Mphoentle Investments to manage when Mahole joined the municipality.
But Mahole vehemently denied any links to the two companies. Mahole claims he discloses his financial interests annually to his employer.
He also denied any involvement in any conflicts of interest, fraud or corruption.
