The SIU is probing the irregular procurement of PPE after it was established that the prices - charged by a service provider – were inflated. The report which was presented before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), revealed that the service provider inflated the price to R451 200 in August 2020. 

Meanwhile, the SIU is also casting its eyes to the Ratlou Local Municipality following allegations that the municipality also entered into a contract with an inflated price of PPE of a whopping R373 145.

OFM News previously broke the news that the executive mayor Kgotso Khumalo, his two officials Cyril Henry and Mohau Shuping, were arrested by the Hawks after R5 million's fraud and theft charges.
 
In August 2018, the chairperson of Scopa in the North West, Mahlakeng Mahlekeng, described the JB Marks as a collapsed municipality following allegations of irregular and wasteful expenditure standing around R1 billion.

Mahlakeng told OFM News that instead of appearing before the committee mayor, Khumalo instead sent or appointed Councillor Kelvin Johnson as Acting Mayor to attend the meeting on his behalf and Johnson could, however, not produce the appointment letter with delegated powers.

Khumalo refuted these claims and said his municipality is well run and sound. However, opposition parties dismissed the claims as unfortunate, given what they call the unending service delivery issues such as sewage spillages and potholes, among others. The JB Marks Municipality forms part of many municipalities across the country that are being probed for irregular procurement of PPE’s. The SIU is investigating a whopping R10,5 billion related to the procurement of PPE.
 

OFM News