A CASE of fraud and corruption has been opened against the head of KZN Sports, Arts and Culture, Ntokozo Chonco.
DA spokesman for Arts and Culture in KZN, Bradley Singh, said: “We received damning information relating to tender fraud to the value of R5,1 million.
“The information relates to the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) for eight KZN modular libraries.”
The libraries are located in KwaNzimakwe, Nibela, Kwankosi Khumalo, Kwakhetha, Mpembeni, Ntunjambili, Denny Dalton and Mfekayo districts.
“The tenders with inflated pricing were awarded to modular library contractors not only for PPEs, but also for TLBs and roller and tipper trucks. The money was not meant for these but allocated specifically for Covid-19,” he said.
He said the Department of Arts and Culture also paid contractors for the hiring of Covid-19 compliance officers, who did not perform their duties.
“We were also shocked to learn that some of the contact numbers and companies do not even exist,” he said.
“How did the department appoint these service providers and who did the department actually pay?” One of the service providers, William Mbonambi, told Daily Sun his company YamaKhabase Building Enterprise no longer existed.
“I owned YamaKhabase, but I had issues with Sars so it no longer exists,” he said.
“I never rendered any services to the department unless someone did it without my knowledge.”
An alleged service provider based in Cape Town claimed R809 600.
Daily Sun contacted the number and it was answered by Claude GK who said: “I don’t have a company and I’ve never applied for any government tender.
“I don’t even know who put my number on those tender documents.”
An alleged service provider who purportedly claimed R475 269 said he doesn’t have a company.
“I don’t even know who or why they put my contact number there,” he said.
Phathisa Mfuyo of the department said they were aware of the criminal case.
“We respect their right to take any action. We will allow the law to run its course,” said Mfuyo.
KZN police spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said a case of fraud was being investigated.
