The former head of the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, two former municipal managers, a former supply chain director as well as two companies appeared before the Welkom Magistrates Court on Wednesday after they were charged for fraud, corruption, money laundering, contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and the Municipal Management Act.
Tsoarelo Malakoane, 56, Monyane Sefantsi, 53, Eunice Aaron, 55, Lodewikus Celliers, 80, Georgia Thubane, 47, Lebogang Sebeela, 47, as well as two companies, Architect in Amalgamation and Architect Celliers Greyvenstein Close Corporation, are facing a total of 20 charges relating to a contract that was awarded to the companies unlawfully for the development of the Winnie Mandela Museum in Brandfort.
In a statement, National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the state alleges that on July 20 and 21, 2008, the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Lejweleputswa District Municipality and Masilonyane Local Municipality signed an agreement for the development of the Winnie Mandela Museum.
Lejweleputswa District Municipality was appointed as the implementing agent and the department of sports and culture was responsible for making the money available.
Malakoane and Sebeela, as the HOD and supply chain director at the department respectively, authorised for money to be paid to Lejweleputsa as the implementing agent.
“Sefatsi, as the municipal manager of Lejweleputswa, paid around R500 000 to Architect Amalgamation without following proper procurement process,” said Shuping.
“Architect Amalgamation was no longer registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession at the time the contract was awarded.
“Sefatsi later left the municipality and was replaced by Aaron as the municipal manager.
“Aaron paid around R204 000 to Architect Celliers Greyvenstein Closed Corporation despite knowing that the municipality does not have a lawful contract with the company.”
As a result, R704 000 was paid to the two companies without a lawful contract and the companies also did not render any service for the money that was paid to them.
Aaron was granted bail of R3 000, Celliers got R10 000 bail while Sefatsi, Thubane, Sebeela and Malakoane, who is currently the HOD of the Free State Department of Education, were each granted bail of R20 000.
The case was postponed to 11 November 2022 for tracing of one accused who is outstanding and for the state to decide on the forum.
The Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo said the accused were arrested on Tuesday in Free State and Gauteng provinces by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Free State. – Staff Reporter