Brooklyn police. Image: supplied

Brooklyn police. Image: supplied

OUTA lays criminal complaint against Tahal SA directors for R30m tender

The City of Tshwane suspended this shady contract in 2017.

Brooklyn police. Image: supplied

Brooklyn police. Image: supplied

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has officially laid a criminal complaint against the directors of Tahal South Africa (Pty) Ltd, at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria last week, after exposing a dodgy contract to the City of Tshwane, who subsequently suspended the contract in 2017.

The City of Tshwane suspended this contract but there was no prosecution

This contract was a tender awarded by the City of Tshwane, with an initial budget drafted for R8 million, consequently the contract was allegedly manipulated and jumped to R30 million for work that appears to be valued at only R1,5 million.

The City of Tshwane was made aware of this dubious contract, and they too started their investigation into the matter and suspended this contract in 2017.

The tender was awarded in 2015 for three years for R30 664 million

The tender was awarded to Tahal on 22 April 2015 for three years at R30, 664 million excluding value-added tax (vat), as the VAT would add another R4, 293 million to the contract.

“South Africa is in the state that it is because of the failure to hold offenders criminally liable for their actions. We need to get those who plunder our state off our streets and into prison.”

Michael Holenstein, OUTA’s Inland Regional Manager for Local Government

OUTA’s complaint comes with names of people implicated in the dodgy tender

The official criminal complaint to the police includes an affidavit by Rudie Heyneke, OUTA Portfolio Manager for Transport, and this affidavit names the Tahal directors as:

  • David Hirshchowitz, who is reported to have passed away in December 2018;
  • Avishay Eyal, and the CEO as Neshika Pillay-Naidoo.
  • Aftec Capital director as Selwyn Nathan and Jet Capital as director David Hirschowitz, which both benefited from the contract.

OUTA’s affidavit also names Jason Ngobeni, who was the Tshwane city manager at the time, and 10 other Tshwane officials, and the document details charges of fraud, corruption and bribery to be investigated against those who have been named.

“We have been mandated by residents of Tshwane who support us to challenge the corruption and maladministration in the City. OUTA is currently challenging the Hammanskraal water quality, e-tolls, the recently signed AARTO Amendment Act and bringing a court action to declare Dudu Myeni a delinquent director. We are also investigating several other issues that have been brought to our attention by Tshwane residents.”

Michael Holenstein, OUTA’s Inland Regional Manager for Local Government