This is despite the department having lost millions of rands following shoddy procumbent processes. Former HOD, Dion Garvey Theys, was sentenced to a fine of R150 000 or three years imprisonment of which R100 000 or two years imprisonment is suspended for five years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of the same offence again. 

The Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime Court convicted and sentenced Theys on Wednesday (16/8) on three counts. 

OFM News previously reported the Hawks arrested Theys after it emerged that in March 2014 he used his position to sign three lease agreements with JP Hugo's residence for nursing accommodation without following proper procurement processes. Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said the cost of these lease agreements is more than R96 million.

Theys was arrested in March 2021 by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team and made numerous court appearances until his sentencing. His contravention of Section 86 (1) of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, was committed during the time of the suspension. The accused has been declared unfit to possess a firearm.

He was granted R30 000 bail after he made his first appearance at the Kimberley Magistrate's Court in 2021.

In March 2022, Premier Zamani Saul vowed that his provincial government would deal with and root out corruption cases in municipalities and across departments of the province.

Zamani said this after his provincial government partnered with the Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks, among others, to launch the Local Government Anti-Corruption Forum.

OFM News