The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, in East London has granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) an order for the forfeiture of a vehicle bought for Chief Director for Supply Chain Management in the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), Marius Harmse, as gratification for awarding a tender for the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said the Mercedes Benz V-class was purchased through an elaborate money laundering scheme which involved the payment of R328 000 by the supplier, Sigqibo Makupula of Kups Trading, for a deposit to purchase the R800 000 vehicle for Harmse.
“The court granted AFU a preservation order of R328 000, last year. It has now ordered that the state assume control of the vehicle, dispose of it through sale, and deposit the proceeds into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA), as the vehicle is an instrumentality of corruption and represents the proceeds of unlawful activities,” said Tyali.
He said Harmse was responsible for the section that signed off on the tender that resulted in Makupula being paid R4 million by the ECDOE on August 31, 2020.
According to Tyali he was therefore conflicted when he accepted the R328 000, paid as a deposit on the Mercedes V Series from Ronnies Motors.
“The granting of this forfeiture order is part and parcel of the law enforcement agencies unwavering efforts to address corruption and to return proceeds of crime back to the state,” said Tyali.
