The Hawks have arrested eight people, including a former human settlements director and city manager in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality, in connection with a Covid-19 toilet tender.
A businessman and his wife, a regional secretary and three former councillors were also arrested, said spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela.
They will appear in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday on allegations of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The Hawks began the investigation after a complaint that a tender for the construction of flushing toilets by the metro had been irregularly awarded. The toilets were meant for destitute families to contain the spread of Covid-19 during lockdown.
“Through analysis of bank accounts, a transaction of R400,000 was identified between the company that won the tender and another company that was not declared as a subcontractor. The funds were then transferred to another bank account linked to a private businessperson.
“Following up on the funds, it was established R300,000 was paid to the regional secretary, who in turn paid three former councillors as appreciation for casting votes of no confidence against one of their own, the then mayor.”
Athol Trollip, representing the DA, lost the mayoral seat during a vote of no confidence in August 2018.
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Hawks arrest 8 in Mandela Bay in connection with toilet tender, ‘bribes’ to oust former mayor
Image: Werner Hills
The Hawks have arrested eight people, including a former human settlements director and city manager in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality, in connection with a Covid-19 toilet tender.
A businessman and his wife, a regional secretary and three former councillors were also arrested, said spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela.
They will appear in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday on allegations of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The Hawks began the investigation after a complaint that a tender for the construction of flushing toilets by the metro had been irregularly awarded. The toilets were meant for destitute families to contain the spread of Covid-19 during lockdown.
“Through analysis of bank accounts, a transaction of R400,000 was identified between the company that won the tender and another company that was not declared as a subcontractor. The funds were then transferred to another bank account linked to a private businessperson.
“Following up on the funds, it was established R300,000 was paid to the regional secretary, who in turn paid three former councillors as appreciation for casting votes of no confidence against one of their own, the then mayor.”
Athol Trollip, representing the DA, lost the mayoral seat during a vote of no confidence in August 2018.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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