Former Sassa official and businesswoman in court over tender fraud

A former Eastern Cape South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) spokesperson and a businesswoman have appeared in court in connection with alleged tender fraud dating back more than a decade. Luzuko Luntu Qina, 60, of Tsholomnqa, Doreen Maqu Makhaye, 46, of Johannesburg, and her company, Azande Consulting CC, appeared in the magistrate’s court in KuGompo City on Monday on charges of fraud and money laundering. They were granted R5,000 bail each after the state did not oppose their release.

They handed themselves over to the Hawks earlier on Monday. According to the charge sheet, the case relates to ministerial outreach events held in 2013 and 2014 during visits by then social development minister Bathabile Dlamini. The programme was aimed at combating poverty by bringing government services closer to communities, including distributing social relief such as school uniforms to pupils in the Chris Hani, OR Tambo and Amathole districts and Nelson Mandela Bay.

Service providers were contracted to supply catering, transport, tents and sound systems. However, it is alleged that some companies claimed payment for services they did not provide. Prosecutors allege that between November 2013 and June 2014, the accused misrepresented that a payment of R494,870 for catering services at an outreach event in Mvezo Great Place was legitimate.

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The charge sheet states that White Dove Investments was paid for catering services it did not render and was not entitled to claim. It is further alleged that the accused knowingly dealt with proceeds of unlawful activities, including payments amounting to about R474,000 to Azande Consulting for services that were not provided.

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