The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order to freeze a luxury property and a vehicle linked to an Eskom employee and his family following an investigation into bribery and corruption. Intensive investigations revealed that Eskom surveyor and project manager Johannes Seroke Mfalapitsa and his family received about R8 million from companies that a tender, valued at R54 million, unlawfully favoured. Special tribunal judge M Victor, granted an order preventing Mfalapitsa, his wife Ndiyafhi Denge and others from selling or dealing with a luxury property valued at R3.9 million in Bendor, Polokwane, and a Nissan NP200.
In 2016, Eskom advertised a tender for high-definition surveying services valued at R54 million. The contract was awarded to a panel of 10 service providers for five years. Mfalapitsa was appointed as the employer’s “agent” and project manager.
He was responsible for preparing the scope of work, evaluating bids as part of the technical team and later managing the project. Buzwe Geomatics Engineering Services (Pty) Ltd, NTG Solutions CC, and Litha Langa Consulting were among the 10 appointed service providers. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the investigation revealed that a close-knit network of family and friends facilitated the alleged corruption.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
[paywall]
The Eskom employee’s spouse, Denge, received over R2.2 million from the scheme, while his brother, David Mfalapitsa, received over R228 000 from a service provider’s director. The network also involved Mpho Negondeni, who Denge “raised as her own child” and her company, Tabogambambe (Pty) Ltd, which she used as a conduit. Kganyago said over R3.5 million flowed from service providers to them, which was then used to pay for the construction of the Bendor property and to make payments to Denge. The investigation also uncovered a close relationship between Mfalapitsa and Bulelani Lengoasa, the director of Buzwe.
[/paywall]
