SIU corruption investigator turns down businessmen’s R300 000 bribe

The corruption trial against two Limpopo businessmen who attempted to bribe a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigator with R300 000 started in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that trial was expected to run until Thursday and then again from 20 to 22 October 2021. 

Kganyago said that Jack Maake, 44, and Matome Prince Mathole, 34, were arrested in a joint SIU operation with the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks, in November 2019 after the two men had attempted to bribe  SIU investigator with R300 000 to influence the outcome of special investigation into them.

“The pair met with SIU investigator in a Polokwane hotel and handed over a R300 000 gratification which led to their immediate arrest.  The matter relates to a R50 million tender awarded by the Mopani District Municipality to Twin Corner Construction and Projects 35 CC for the construction, installation, repair, refurbishment, maintenance of 38 boreholes,” he said. 

He said the SIU had been directed to investigate allegations of corruption, malpractice, maladministration and financial mismanagement relating to procurement of goods and services in the Mopani Local Municipality, and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State. Their investigation was launched in terms of  the presidential Proclamation R15 of 2018,

“The SIU investigation had revealed that the service provider submitted invoices to the Giyani based municipality amounting to R17.9 million for service not rendered as per the terms of the contract,” he said.

“However, the invoices were processed by the municipality. The boreholes were meant to benefit a number of villages under the jurisdiction of the district municipality,” he added.

Members of the public are invited to report any fraud and corruption allegations via the SIU’s following platforms: siu@whistleblowing.co.za / Hotline: 0800 037 774