There was shouting and a scuffle outside the Bellville Magistrate's Court yesterday when a city official, his wife and his alleged mistress appeared in connection with illegal tenders. Paul Hattingh, 42, a store-keeper and tender oversight committee member with the city, is charged with his wife, Simonéy Hattingh, and Carina Esmeralda Plato with fraud and corruption.It is alleged they used his position to cash in on cleaning products contracts worth R70-million over several years.The case was postponed yesterday because the trio have replaced their lawyer, who asked for more time to examine the evidence. As the three filed out of court, they tried to stop the media from taking photos.Simonéy pushed a photographer, while Hattingh shouted: "If you wanted to take pictures you should have asked."The three split immediately in the parking lot. Hattingh and his wife jumped into a bulky blue SUV and Plato went her separate way.An investigation by the Hawks, based on evidence compiled by the city, linked Hattingh to a litany of companies that allegedly defrauded the city over a number of years. The companies supplied the city with anything from feather dusters to cockroach spray, furniture polish, refuse bags, shoe polish and foot deodoriser.A paper trail shows that one business run by 37-year-old Simonéy was paid R11.7-million from 2008 to 2012 for items such as disinfectant, liquid hand soap and rat poison. A 121-page charge sheet compiled by the state alleges that all three accused failed to declare conflicts of interest in tender documents.At the time of their arrest last month, Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said: "The Hawks in the Western Cape were made aware of the fraud in 2014 and an in-depth ensued, leading to the arrest of Mr Hattingh, Simonéy Ulanda Hattingh (his wife) and Esmeralda Plato, who is believed to be Mr Hattingh's girlfriend."The three are out on R50 000 bail each. They indicated during their bail hearing that they intended pleading not guilty.Magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg postponed the matter until April 28. After the hearing, their former counsel, advocate Leon Fieties, said he had terminated his services because "there was a conflict of interest between the attorney and the client". He would not give details.New lawyer, Asghar Miasaid, said: "We have taken the matter from the previous attorneys, they have supplied us the copies of all the evidential material. We need time to peruse the documentation."..