The former Rustenburg Municipal Manager (MM), Ngqobile Sithole, is facing charges of tender irregularities involving R11 million. She is alleged to have contravened the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA) when the municipality allegedly contravened a tender process while piggy-backing on a Free State contract. According to the Hawks’ provincial spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, it is alleged that in August 2017, the Rustenburg Municipality unlawfully adopted a contract by the Free State Department of Transport. Rikhotso says the accused appeared in court on Monday and her case was postponed to 19 September at the Rustenburg Regional Court.

The 39-year-old appeared before the Rustenburg Regional Court in connection with the alleged appointment of a service provider for a contract worth over R11 million.When the municipality piggy-backed on the contract it was supposedly in terms of Regulation 32 of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulation but prescripts of the law were allegedly not followed.

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“The Department of Transport had appointed a service provider to render services related to the hiring of a construction plant and machinery (yellow fleet). It is alleged that when the Rustenburg Municipality adopted the contract, the prescripts of Regulation 32 were not followed in that they did not get permission from the Department of Transport before adopting the contract. Additionally, instead of sticking to the original scope of the contract, they deviated and purchased light motor vehicles worth approximately R11 983 271.50. The accused was charged with contravening section 173 (1) (a)(ii) and 174 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, read with Regulation 32 of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulation,” Rikhotso adds.

OFM News previously reported that several multi-million rand contracts that were awarded by the North West and Free State Health Departments - to the same service providers – were being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

OFM News