Mlamleli is joined in courtroom 17 by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Johannesburg company Blackhead Consulting Edwin Sodi; the former head of the Free State Human Settlements Department Nthimotse Mokhesi; the former national Director-General (DG) of Human Settlements Thabane Zulu; and three others. 

Whilst proceedings are underway at the Magistrate's Court, what has been confirmed thus far is that the group is facing fraud, corruption, and money laundering charges in connection with a 2013/14 asbestos audit housing project worth R255 million. 

Leader of Mlamleli’s pack of ANC supporters, Malefu Mofokeng, tells OFM News she and other ANC members are here to support Mlamleli in their personal capacities, further alleging that the case against Mlamleli is politically motivated.

Mofokeng says Mlamleli isn’t the only government official alleged to have played a role in irregular tender processes, yet she is only one of the few that are now facing criminal charges. The ANC member goes on to accuse the media fraternity and the judiciary system in South Africa of being pawns in the country’s political wars.

Sodi was awarded a R255 million worth tender in a joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading, owned by slain Welkom businessman, Igo Mpambani, by the Free State Human Settlements Department in 2014. In his testimony at the Zondo Commission this week, Sodi admitted failure to declare that his company had no accreditation to carry out the entire project, and that he had invested in a residential property in Bloemfontein with the then Head of the Department, Nthimotse Mokhesi. 

During his testimony, Mokhesi could, however, not respond to questions as to why Sodi invested R650 000 in the house he lived in just months after his department awarded the joint venture the R255 million contract. Zulu, on the other end, is said to have benefited from a R600 000 payment towards the purchase of a Range Rover, paid by Sodi in KwaZulu-Natal in December 2016. Mlamleli was the then MEC of the provincial Human Settlements Department.

The tender was also subject to an investigation by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane who highlighted the same concerning irregularities. OFM News’ Katleho Morapela reported that Mkhwebane revealed that the Free State was in possession of the Gauteng Department's Service Legal Agreement, which had expired, and went ahead to pay the service provider despite the Auditor-General having declared the procurement as irregular as early as July 31 in 2015.

Mkhwebane said: "The Department created the impression that they participated in a contract concluded by another state institution [Gauteng Department] while the services were not the same as specified in the existing contract and also the price was higher."

She said this was in contravention of Treasury regulations and amounts to improper conduct. She said their findings also indicate that the service provider - the Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading joint venture - had subcontracted the contract at a fee of just over R21 million, while they were paid over R230 million.

OFM News