Two former Sakhisizwe Local Municipality senior officials and a company director are facing charges of corruption and contravention of the municipal finance management act relating to a R12 million sports field project in Elliot.
Hawks provincial spokesperson, captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said municipal manager Dumile Muvulane (59) and 42-year-old former project manager Nothemba Ntlantsana-Toyi were arrested on June 30. Along with them was Sky High Engineering Consulting director, Claudius Nhawu (32). They were all arrested by the East London based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit.
Mgolodela said that in 2017 and 2018 the municipality embarked on a sports field uplifting project.
“The project was allocated R12 million. It is alleged the bidding committee nominated the deserving company and forwarded documents to the municipal manager, who is reported to have changed the company without providing reasons to the treasury,” she said.
Mgolodela said that the company appointed by Mvulane escalated the project costs by R4.9 million. The auditor general red flagged the appointment and a complaint was lodged with the Hawks in August 2019.
The trio appeared before the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Court on the day of their arrest.
“They were released on R10 000 bail each. The matter is remanded to August 1 for the addition of other accused who are still to be arrested,” she said.
