The SIU has referred some matters to the NPA for prosecution. Other possible sanctions include the blacklisting of 27 companies.

The SIU has referred matters involving former Treasury Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Monaheng Mokoena, and Head of the Department (HOD) of Human Settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi, to the NPA.

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The SIU has found that the CFO committed fraud by making a misrepresentation of the quotations submitted for C-Squared company regarding the pricing of the medical protective overalls and masks.

Both Mokoena and the CEO of C-Squared, Ben Moseme, have been referred to the NPA.

Meanwhile, Mokhesi was found to have failed to comply with the Public Finance Management Act.

The Office of the Free State Premier is considering disciplinary action against him. The ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, says the report is a step in the right direction.

“We are happy when the police force is able to deal with wrongdoing, in procurement in government especially. So we are happy that, as the ANC, something is done to ensure that we curb wrongdoing, especially in procurement in government. And this has been the decision of the ANC in the conference and we are happy that it’s being implemented and we can see more action being taken against such wrongdoing.”

The EFF Free State chairperson, Mandisa Makesini, says all those implicated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), must be barred from doing business with the state.

Makesini says the rot is endemic amongst the government employees.

“Our concern is the issue of the employees of the government, who are 224 that are implicated in this. And 330 companies that are being blacklisted - those people must be charged by the NPA. They must be charged and they must go to jail. Justice must prevail for the people of the Free State. The corruption that is happening in this province is too much. And all those people, if they think they will come with another name to register their company, their IDs and any information regarding them must be highlighted so that they must not do any business with any government, anytime soon in this country, in this province of the Free State.”

The Freedom Front Plus in the Free State has also called for those implicated in the irregular awarding of tenders relating to goods and services in connection with Covid-19, to be prosecuted. FF Plus Member of Parliament, Wouter Wessels, says heads of departments must be taken to task for not following the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

“Well, the FF Plus is of the opinion that this report only shows the tip of the iceberg. That it’s also very clear that the Free State is endemic with corruption, inflated prices and with financial mismanagement. Whilst the people of the Free State were suffering and are still suffering because of dire economic circumstances in the province and financial shortages. These types of irregular contracts were awarded, then we say there must be consequences, especially for the political heads, that on their watch this happens and they allowed this to happen.”

The DA leader in the Free State, Roy Jankielsohn, says those implicated in the wrongdoing must face the full might of the law.

“Another important aspect is that 27 companies are being referred to the South African Police Services (SAPS) for investigation in terms of alleged fraud. One of them is C-Squared, which has a monopoly over many activities within the Free State. And the last aspect of it is that within the Department of Human Settlements, there are also allegations of fraud and the former HOD, Mr Mokhesi, has been referred by the SIU also for further prosecution.

Meanwhile, both sons of the suspended ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule have been exonerated.

Allegations were made that they got contracts due to their father’s relations with the MEC for Treasury. Treasury was not immediately available for comment.

SABC News