Testifying before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, the former Head of the Human Settlements Department, Nthimotse Mokhesi, had to answer critical questions as to why his department signed off on the R255 million asbestos project without conducting any due diligence investigations. 

This, as Mokhesi told the commission that he was under the impression that the Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading joint venture had the qualifications and accreditation to remove asbestos material. 

Mokhesi further confirmed before the commission that the provincial department did not receive value for money.

Whilst Mokhesi's lack of knowledge on a project he signed off on came as a surprise to the commission, his responses regarding a house bought in Bloemfontein with one of the beneficiaries of the project - BlackHead Consulting CEO Edwin Sodi - raised even more eyebrows.

Responding to questions posed by Advocate Paul Pretorius, Mokhesi revealed how he could not buy a house due to issues raised by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and how he approached Sodi to help as he knew the businessman invested in property.

Mokhesi could, however, not respond to questions as to why Sodi invested R650 000  in his house just months after Mokhesi’s department awarded the joint venture a contract to the tune of R255 million. He could also not answer why a contract between himself and Sodi included a secrecy clause, indicating the property investment may not be disclosed to third parties.

In defence of Mokhesi, his legal representative Advocate Dali Mpofu told the commission that some questions could not be answered at that stage as they were self-incriminating.

Mokhesi has meanwhile been fingered for maladministration and gross negligence in a Public Protector report over this project, with Busisiwe Mkhwebane outlining that the department failed to follow proper procurement procedures.

OFM News