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- A boutique hotel was among the properties frozen by the Asset Forfeiture Unit amid an investigation into bid fraud at the KwaZulu-Natal prime minister’s office.
- The NPA said that some of the real estate and vehicles belong to the chief financial officer of Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala’s office.
- The property of other staff members, including 40 vehicles, were also seized.
A boutique hotel, houses and 40 vehicles belonging to KwaZulu-Natal Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Premier Sihle Zikalala, and other employees and contractors associated with the office, were frozen by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) on Tuesday.
The National Prosecutor’s Office said that his AFU immobilized several real estate and vehicles belonging to CFO Ziphathe Mboneni Cibane, as well as assets belonging to his co-defendants and their entities.
This followed an order issued by the High Court of Pietermaritzburg against the defendants in the criminal matter they face in the Specialized Court for Commercial Crimes.
In July 2020, Cibane and three other employees from the Prime Minister’s office, his personal assistant Nomusa Zakwe, a clerk Thobelani Makhathini, and Sithembiso Msomi, a senior clerk, appeared at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court, along with the leader of the event company Gugu Kheswa. from Phumalanga Communications.
They were charged with bid fraud and corruption.
READ | R24m Catering Tender Case: CFO and KZN Premier Zikalala office officials released on bail
In October 2020, they were joined by more defendants: Pamela Hlongwa, Ashley Rose, Ntombimpela Mabel Majozi and Sybil Motaung, along with their entities: Roren Engineering, Nto’s Catering CC, I Dot Q, Set Apart Group, Isidleke Enterprises Pty Ltd; and the Inala Business Consortium.
The State alleged that there was collusion in the supply chain management section with the service providers regarding the tenders.
His charges were related to an alleged bid fraud of around R24 million.
The restricted properties on Tuesday had an estimated equity value of 23.3 million rand.
The items would be kept in custody until the outcome of the criminal trial was known. The defendants were out on bail and were expected to return to court on April 30, 2021.
(Supplied by NPA)
(Supplied by NPA)
