Education department denies bribery accusations
BURGERSFORT – The Limpopo ANC vowed to crack down on an MEC accused of soliciting a bribe of more than R1 million from a non-government organisation contracted by the basic education department to build toilets at rural schools. This is according to an article carried on citizen.co.za on March 6. A case of corruption has …
BURGERSFORT – The Limpopo ANC vowed to crack down on an MEC accused of soliciting a bribe of more than R1 million from a non-government organisation contracted by the basic education department to build toilets at rural schools. This is according to an article carried on citizen.co.za on March 6.
A case of corruption has been opened against education MEC, Ishmael Kgetjepe and is being investigated.
Kgetjepe allegedly telephonically demanded R1 050 000 from construction company, Mvula Trust, under the pretext the money was going towards his constituency work. The Limpopo Department of Education has denied the bribery accusations, saying that due to the date the MEC took office, it is impossible to implicate him.
The bribery allegations are allegedly contained in a confidential report compiled by independent auditing firm, Nexia SAB&T. The firm was hired by Mvula Trust to audit its books for the 2017/18 financial year. The firm won a multimillion-rand tender from the National Department of Basic Education in the 2012/13 financial year.
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The toilets were to be built as part of the Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASIDI) in Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. A DA press release states that according to the report, R150 000 was paid to Kgetjepe on September 28, 2017, R150 000 on October 23, 2017, R150 000 on November 1, 2017, R100 000 on December 4, 2017, R100 000 on December 15, 2017, R150 000 on May 23 last year, R150 000 on June 6 last year and R100 000 on June 27 last year.
ANC Limpopo provincial spokesman, Donald Selamolela told citizen.co.za, “It doesn’t matter how big you are or what position you hold in government or the ANC.
The law will take its course. We have planned to deal with this matter the same way the ANC and the Limpopo provincial government dealt with the VBS saga.” Speaking to Steelburger/Lydenburg News the EFF’s Jossy Buthane said they have opened a case of fraud against Kgetjepe at the Polokwane SAPS on March 6.
Police spokesman in Limpopo, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that a case of corruption was opened against Kgetjepe and is being investigated.
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DA provincial chairman, Jacques Smalle called on the premier, Stan Mathabatha to recall Kgetjepe. Responding to Steelburger/Lydenburg News’ queries, Limpopo education’s spokesman Sam Makondo said, “The MEC did not demand or receive any money to influence any awarding of a tender because the Mvula Trust tender was already awarded already when he joined the department back in 2015.
“So how does one influence a tender which was already awarded in 2012/13 and the MEC had no influence whatsoever in the adjudication of bids since they are done by supply chain committees and not an MEC.”
