A Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport official has been dismissed after a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation uncovered that he allegedly received money from a service provider that benefited from COVID-19 disinfection contracts worth more than R3.7 million.
The SIU said State Accountant for Property and Facilities Jacob Bandile Ngcobo was dismissed by the department after an investigation found that he had an inappropriate and corrupt relationship with Superia Services Trading, a company that received contracts from the department during the National State of Disaster.
The company, owned by Tshidi Suzan Sedibe, was appointed in February 2019 to provide pest control services at government buildings in the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Superia Services Trading was appointed to provide disinfection services, with the department reportedly paying the company R3,758,206.53 between July 2020 and September 2021.
According to SIU spokesperson Selby Makgatho, the SIU investigation found that shortly after Superia Services Trading received payments from the department, funds were transferred to Ngcobo through “cash send” payments.
Between August 2020 and March 2021, Ngcobo received R28,000 from the company.
”Ngcobo played a key role in selecting and appointing service providers, including Superia Services Trading, for disinfection services.
”He failed to declare the financial benefit received from the company, creating a conflict of interest,” said Makgatho.
Makgatho said the matter was referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution, while the SIU recommended disciplinary action against Ngcobo and five other officials in November 2021.
Ngcobo and Sedibe are now facing corruption charges in the Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela following the SIU’s referral.
”The investigation forms part of the SIU’s wider probe into COVID-19 procurement under Proclamation R23 of 2020, which empowered the unit to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration and irregular expenditure linked to the state’s response to the pandemic,” said Makgatho.
In July 2024, the Mpumalanga High Court granted a preservation order for assets worth about R52.6 million linked to an alleged procurement corruption network involving 22 officials, service providers and entities within the department.
The SIU said Ngcobo’s bank accounts, assets and bail money were among those frozen under the order.
SIU Acting Head Leonard Lekgetho said the dismissal demonstrated the importance of holding officials accountable for abusing their positions.
“The SIU welcomes the department’s decisive action to dismiss Ngcobo for abusing his position and unlawfully benefiting from funds intended to protect South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lekgetho said.
He said the outcome also highlighted the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and government accounting officers in addressing corruption.
“This outcome demonstrates the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and accounting officers in ensuring that officials implicated in corruption are held accountable.
”We encourage all government departments and public institutions to act decisively on SIU recommendations to strengthen governance and protect public resources,” Lekgetho said.
The SIU is empowered under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996, to investigate allegations of corruption, fraud and maladministration, recover financial losses suffered by the state through civil litigation and refer evidence of criminal conduct to relevant prosecuting authorities.
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Hope Ntanzi
iol.co.za
