Three suspects including the former Head of the Department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape were arrested for alleged fraud and corruption on Thursday, 13 August 2020 in Gauteng and East London respectively.
The arrests of the suspects come in the wake of a countrywide call for an end to corruption both in the public and private sectors. According to the information, during 2015/2016 financial year the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development set aside an amount of R42 466 million for capacity building by the National Development Agency in the Eastern Cape.
On 15 June 2015 without prior warning and adherence to the supply chain management processes, the 52-year-old accounting officer at the time signed a service level agreement with a company named Umnotho Development and further appointed the service provider by deviating from the normal procurement processes.
Consequently, the budget was split and an amount of R14 466 million was paid to company. As if that was not enough, in the following financial year 2016/2017 financial year, a tender was advertised for the provision of training and capacitation of cooperatives. Again, even in this instance, the procurement processes were flouted resulting to Umnotho Training and Development Trust being appointed and paid R15 000 000.
The Eastern Cape based Anti-Corruption Team in concert with DPCI Hawks, led a successful investigation which brought about the arrest of the three suspects allegedly involved in fraud and corruption.
The suspects are Stanely Khanyile 52, Poovandaren Chetty 44, and Vuyokazi Valentia Sangoni 47. Two male suspects were arrested in Alberton and Sandton respectively, whilst the third female suspect was arrested at her home in East London. They were transported from Gauteng Province to the Eastern Cape in King Williams Town.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga described the arrests as one of the major breakthroughs the Anti-Corruption Team in collaboration with DPCI has made recently. Responding to the arrests effected, General Ntshinga expressed excitement at SAPS’s determined efforts to heed the call made by both the President of South Africa and the Premier of the Eastern Cape to expose the corrupt elements and nip their nefarious activities in the bud.
It is an utter embarrassment to find those entrusted with higher calling in government, to be associated with unethical conduct and stealing from the public purse. The anti-corruption wheel of justice has been set in motion and is rolling without any stop. Those who stand on the way of a clean and accountable leadership will not escape being crushed. Lieutenant General Ntshinga concluded.
All three suspects appeared in the King Williams Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 14 August 2020 for fraud and corruption, theft and money laundering charges. They were granted bail and their next court appearance is on 16 October 2020 in King Williams Town.
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