The Hawks are investigating alleged large-scale fraud involving a R200 million sewage contract in the Matjhabeng Municipality.
Reportedly the spotlight of this investigation falls on Nkosinjani Speelman, controversial former executive mayor, and Zingisa Tindleni, municipal manager, of the municipality.
Information of the investigation was included in a presentation by lt.genl. Tebello Mosikili, deputy head of the Hawks. His presentation was done before the Select Parliamentary Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements in the National Council of Provinces (NCP).
But Tindleni said on Monday (20/06) the Hawks had not yet contacted her about the matter. She also obtained the news of the online submission from the parliamentary committee last Tuesday (14/06) and from subsequent comments Facebook. “I am not at all a party with interests in such a sewer contract and I regard the matter as malicious. No tender from the municipality may be awarded for longer than three years. The information is therefore incorrect,” she says.
Several attempts to contact Speelman, now an ANC councillor of the Lejweleputswa district municipality, failed.
According to the submission, a whistleblower approached the Hawks in May 2021 with allegations of corruption in the Matjhabeng municipality.
The whistleblower claim they have interests in a company contracted to remove the municipality’s sewage waste. It was allegedly contracted for five years at R200 million.
Oupa Khoabane, spokesperson for the interim provincial committee of the ANC in the Free State, said he was not aware that Speelman and Tindleni were being investigated by the Hawks.
Christopher Singo, the Free State Hawkes spokesperson, says he cannot confirm whether Speelman and Tindleni are being investigated.
“We are investigating a case and not people. We usually announce the names when the case goes to court.”
Vista is in possession of a copy of the report tabled on 21 May. The Speelman and Tindleni case is listed as being investigated, and the offence is stated as fraud and corruption.
Of the cases being investigated by the Hawks, and which involve Matjhabeng and its officials or politicians, two are already on the court role, and nine are being investigated.
