Toilet tender stink: SIU orders discipline of 16 officials in KwaZulu-Natal

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has directed KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka to take disciplinary action against 16 departmental officials implicated in a R2,5 million chemical toilets tender fraud. The order forms part of a broader judgment that declared the 2020 contract with service provider Hawulethu (Pty) Ltd unlawful. The company was also instructed to repay all profits earned from the deal.

The SIU investigation found that the contract, valued at R2 538 000 for 72 chemical toilets, was awarded in June 2020 without any competitive bidding process. Procured at R3 000 per unit, the toilets were intended for 11 district schools for one month as an emergency measure following the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown and the return of pupils to school. However, the probe revealed widespread procurement violations.

According to the SIU, the Department of Education bypassed mandatory supply chain processes, breaching Section 217 of the Constitution, the Public Finance Management Act and Treasury regulations. • Hawulethu was contacted and began delivering toilets before being formally appointed; • It failed to declare conflicts of interest involving its director;