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By Mervyn Naidoo 
2h ago
Durban – A well-known Durban catering contractor had his palatial home in La Lucía, a nearby boutique hotel, both with ocean views, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle restricted by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Tax Authority ( NPA) this week.
Ntombimpela Mabel Majozi of Nto’s Catering CC is among 16 defendants in a R24 million fraud case related to catering tenders that were allegedly awarded dubiously by officials and employees of the KZN Prime Minister’s Office (OTP) , who colluded with the service. suppliers.
Nto’s Catering is one of four companies that allegedly received preferential treatment from the Prosecutor’s Office, according to an audit report published in August 2017.
The company was also the preferred supplier for VIP events and the report showed that between 2013 and 2016 the company received 59 orders worth almost R8m.
This translated into almost one order a month, sometimes more than one, and the work was often done in the province, while other local service providers were overlooked.
The report was commissioned by KZN’s Treasury department after receiving a whistleblower letter raising allegations of supply chain management (SCM) irregularities from the OTP.
Integrity Forensic Solutions (IFS) was appointed to examine the veracity of the allegations.
The AFU attack on Tuesday morning, which was sealed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court, related to a criminal matter that is being handled by the Durban Commercial Crimes Court.
He attached items valued at more than 23 million rand, which included 20 real estate and 40 vehicles, all belonging to the defendants.
In its report, IFS recommended the suspension of the Prosecutor’s Office staff, criminal charges and the inclusion of the companies involved in black lists.
The Hawks investigated the matter and made arrests in July and October, and charges were filed for bid rigging and corruption.
The District Attorney’s employees who were arrested included Nonhlanhla Pamela Hlongwa, the department’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) manager, Ziphathe Cibane, the District Attorney’s chief financial officer, Nomusa Zakwe, Hlongwa’s personal assistant, and administrative employees Thobelani Makhathini and Sithembiso Msomi.
Catering contractors Majozi, Gugu Kheswa (PMG Events) and Ashley Rose (Roren Engineering CC) were also among those arrested.
All were released after bail. According to the report, Cibane and Hlongwa were largely responsible for the irregular tenders.
Zakwe and Makhathini processed most of the transactions, regardless of SCM’s policies, resulting in prizes for the favored companies.
To eliminate competition, cap quotes were organized from companies that had prosecutors employees and defendant service providers listed as directors. In some cases, other appointments were shredded or thrown away.
In an interview with IFS investigators, Zakwe and Makhathini said that they acted on Hlongwa’s instructions.
Zakwe admitted to receiving cash payments from PMG to facilitate order adjudication.
PMG received tenders worth more than R13 million for the review period, which consisted of 31 orders and Roren’s share of the catering contract cake was R1.2 million.
IFS discovered that Isidleke Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, which was owned by Zakwe’s uncle, who lived with her, received a job worth R468,000.
Zakwe controlled the affairs of the company and kept his bank card, but did not disclose his involvement to his employers.
The report also noted that Cibane had “directly participated in transactions” valued at some R13 million and, given his position, the responsibility for the balance of the irregularly awarded tenders fell on him.
However, Cibane and Hlongwa jointly filed an application with a higher court last month, saying that the IFS report was “flawed” and that the comments and recommendations it contained should be set aside.
They asked that their suspensions from their respective positions also be reviewed and overturned, and they refuted the accusations against them.
Cibane deposed an affidavit on behalf of the couple, who filed the application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
KZN’s prime minister, its CEO and deputy CEOs and IFS are among six respondents on the matter.
He said his suspensions in January, and extended in March, were not in accordance with the provisions of the disciplinary code.
Cibane said both were senior managers and should have been subjected to disciplinary procedures within 60 days of their suspension.
That the charge sheets were not delivered within the 60-day period and that they were not given the opportunity to make statements about why they should not be suspended was another reason why their suspension should be overturned.
Sandile Khoza, director of Norton Rose Fulbright, the law firm representing IFS, confirmed that the request would be challenged.
Lennox Mabaso, a spokesman for Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala, said he could not comment on the issues in court.
Sunday grandstand
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