| 2024/05/28 |
|
Joint Media Statement NORTH WEST – Ntelaleng Matlapeng (59), Director at the North West Health Department and Elliot Motene (49), former Director at the North West Health Department, appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, facing charges of fraud. The pair was arrested on Tuesday morning, 28 May 2024, by members of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation. Their arrest emanates from an investigation into tender irregularities between 2008 and 2009 when the North West Provincial government sought to build two hospitals in Ledig (Moses Kotane hospital) and Vryburg (Joe Marolong hospital). Investigation revealed that the accused certified payment vouchers for exchange rates of R75 million when the contract and specifications did not allow the exchange rates to be claimed. Matlapeng faces one count of fraud, while Motene faces two counts of fraud. The accused were released on R5000 bail and will appear in the same court alongside the other five accused on 30 May 2024. Andrew Lekalakala (58), former Head of the Department of Health in North West, is facing charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and two of fraud; Lydia Keneilwe Sebego (63), former Head of the Department of Health in North West, faces two charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act; Vuyo Mbulawa (54), Chief Director at the Department of Health in North West, is charged with ten counts of fraud; Roulph Lotwane Mabe (68), a service provider, faces six counts of fraud; and Joseph Leshabane (61), a service provider, is facing six charges of fraud. The charges against the two former heads of the department related to Service Level Agreements that were signed between the two companies and their directors on services that needed to be rendered to the two hospitals. The said services were, however, not rendered, while these companies allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices, which were paid by the department after being authorised by Mbulawa. This allegedly led to a loss of over R86 million to the Department of Health, paid to Mabe’s company, and over R49 million paid to Leshabane’s company. The state’s evidence further reveals that the two HODs signed the Service Level Agreements, while they knew that the two companies were not compliant and did not meet the requirements. The North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the additional arrests. Ends
Enquiries:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService |
|
|
