The arrest of Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Department chief Samkelo Ngubane has been welcomed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
He was arrested and charged with personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud and corruption worth R5.9 million in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court.
Ngubane’s arrest came barely a week after Raymond Manzini, Cogta Mpumalanga’s Deputy Director, his brother Chris Manzini, and Moses Ndlovu, director of Gatjeni Ndlovu Trading, were all arrested on similar accusations.
The arrests were made after a “extensive SIU investigation” in the department, according to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
“[Ngubane] was arrested on Monday by the Hawks in Mbombela. Ngubane appeared at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on charges of contravening sections of the Public Finance Management Act. He was released on R10 000 bail and the matter was postponed…for further investigation.
“The prosecution of Ngubane and his co-accused is a continuation of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover assets and financial losses suffered by State institutions and/or to prevent further losses,” Kganyago said.
According to the investigation, the Manzini brothers may have collaborated with Ndlovu to gain PPE deals in exchange for a kickback.
“Gatjeni Ndlovu Trading was solely requested to quote for the supply and delivery of PPE in March 2020. However, after the PPE contract was awarded, Ndlovu approached Chris Manzini to take over the purchase without the approval of the department.
“SIU investigation further revealed that Chris Manzini, also approached his brother Raymond Manzini, who is a government official, to provide funding for the purchase and delivery of PPE. Raymond Manzini allegedly purchased PPE items from companies that are registered to do business with government and resold the items to the department at inflated prices, in contravention of the provisions of prevention and combatting of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004.
“Gatjeni Ndlovu Trading handed an invoice to Raymond Manzini, the financial provider, for the department to effect payment. Immediately after payment was received, a significant sum of money was transferred to Raymond Manzini’s bank account,” Kganyago said.
The four are expected back in court on 28 July