Provincial National Prosecution Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, says investigations revealed that the 54-year-old Bassie Andrews had processed and approved payments to service providers who did not render any services to the department.

According to Shuping, Andrews generated payments of about R397 000 to service providers without any invoice being submitted to the department.

Shuping adds that Andrews has been slapped with a fine of R150 000 and was ordered to pay R50 000 immediately and pay the rest in monthly instalments of R4000 over a period of 25 months.

Andrews received a three-year suspended sentence on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during the period of suspension. 

“State Prosecutors Adv. Justice Bakamela and Adv. Tammy MacPherson charged Andrews together with 18 other accused, who included officials from the department, directors of companies as well as their companies but they were acquitted,” he said.

Shuping adds the court heard that between 30 October 2014 and 8 October 2015, Andrews - who was working for the department as a chief artisan - was responsible for securing service providers for services that were needed by the department. He further says that Andrews was also responsible to process and approve payments to service providers once they had rendered their services.

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