A former municipal manager from the Moretele municipality in the North West, who allegedly unlawfully awarded an ICT tender worth R215 million was arrested.
Theletsi Roger Nkhumise was arrested on Friday and made a brief appearance in the Moretele Regional Court on Monday. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says Nkhumise, contravened the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Nkhumise is accused of unlawfully awarding a tender to Fame IT Strategy to provide Information Communications Technology (ICT) services to the Moretele Municipality, a large rural area in the North West.
Kaizer Kganyago, the SIU spokesperson, said Nkhumise was arrested on Friday and appeared at the Moretele Regional Court.
“Nkhumise is accused of unlawfully appointing Fame IT Strategy to render ICT Services to the Moretele Municipality,” Kganyago stated.
He explained that the municipality inherited the contract from its neighbouring Madibeng Local Municipality. Kganyago said the SIU welcomes Nkhumise’s arrest.
“The arrest of Nkhumise follows an investigation conducted by the SIU, which revealed that the municipality increased the scope of work with two addendums to the original contract without following processes governing municipal procurement of goods and services,” he explained.
“Furthermore, the SIU investigation revealed that the price from that of the original contract between Madibeng Municipality and Fame IT are definitely not in sync with the pricing between Moretele Municipality and Fame IT.”
An amount of R64 million was paid by the Madibeng to Fame IT for a similar service, he said.
“The SIU probe revealed that Moretele is paying way more than what Madibeng Municipality paid Fame IT for a similar service,” said Kganyago.
The SUI instituted a civil action in the Special Tribunal to review and set aside the contract. Evidence of criminality was referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action, said Kganyago.