Four suspects, former HOD in the Department of Transport, NW, and three employees of a service provider are appearing in the Mahikeng Magistrates court this morning, 30 September 2022 following their arrests by the North West’s Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation on 34 counts including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and contravention of Public Finance Management Act. The suspects were arrested in Gauteng and Mahikeng respectively yesterday, 29 September 2022.
It is reported that during 2014, the North West government embarked on the process to reintroduce commercial aircraft to the province’s two airports, Mahikeng and Pilanesberg to the tune of R400 million. The North West government allegedly appointed a service provider to render the service but this was done without following the proper supply chain management processes. The irregularly secured agreement is said to have been signed by four accused. The HOD was signed on behalf of the Dept. of Transport. The deal was riddled with procurement irregularities and monies were paid for the services not rendered. All companies appointed to do the ground handling services were indirectly owned by one of the accused. The irregularities prejudiced the North West government an actual R253 million.
The case is one of the cases that were recommended for investigation by the Zondo Commission. The DPCI will continue the investigations as recommended by the Commission.
The investigation is not ruling out the possibility of more charges being added once the cases have been centralised.