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A former Limpopo prison chief who handed out tenders worth millions, including for a company owned by his girlfriend, and pocketed bribes has been convicted of fraud and corruption.
The Kutama Sinthumule correctional facility suffered a loss of more than 18 million rand through the scheme, said Hawks spokesman Captain Matimba Maluleke.
Clement Raphalalani, the facility’s former deputy director, was sentenced Tuesday in Makhado regional court.
Maluleke gave a breakdown of the activities that occurred under his supervision at Louis Trichardt Prison.
“During 2017, Raphalalani, who was a procurement officer at the facility, awarded a R2.7m tender to Editha Pengson’s company Penson Manufacturing without following due process,” Maluleke said.
“Raphalalani colluded with Pengson to inflate the prices of items purchased for the facility in exchange for a payment of R369,380 which was transferred from Penson Manufacturing to Clemson Carriers, a Raphalalani-owned company.”
In the same year, it awarded another tender worth nearly R1.1m to Vhalenda Zwashu Trading Enterprise. The company was owned by his girlfriend, Delicia Sadiki.
Approximately R132’500 from that tender went to Raphalani’s personal bank account.
“In addition, Raphalalani along with Thabo Makamane, who was also deputy director of the facility, awarded a bid worth R3,588,707 to Durafoam Distributors CC without following due process,” said Maluleke.
Supposedly they pocketed R569,500 from the company.
Raphalalani ‚Makamane‚ Pengson and Sadiki were arrested during a sting operation by the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit in December 2018.
Raphalalani was found guilty of two counts of corruption and 25 counts of fraud, while Clemsons Carriers, the company registered in his name, was found guilty of one count of corruption and 10 counts of fraud.
Pengson Manufacturing and Distribution was found guilty of two counts of corruption and 25 counts of fraud.
“The defendants will be sentenced on September 15, 2020,” Maluleke said.
Makamane has pleaded not guilty and will appear in court on October 22 to stand trial.
Sadiki will appear in court on September 15 for a settlement with the prosecution.
