Alleged corruption in R500m project to be probed
The broadband telecommunication network infrastructure was announced during Premier Stan Mathabatha’s State of the Province Address (Sopa) in 2017, and was reiterated during the 2018 Sopa.
POLOKWANE – Opposition parties in Limpopo have welcomed the Hawks’ probe into a broadband project of R500
million managed by Limpopo Connexion, a subsidiary of the Limpopo Economic Developing Agency (LEDA).
The broadband telecommunication network infrastructure was announced during Premier Stan Mathabatha’s State of the Province Address (Sopa) in 2017, and was reiterated during the 2018 Sopa.
Mathabatha was adamant that broadband connectivity was “the backbone of knowledge economy” and that phase 1 would have been the roll-out of the broadband infrastructure in Polokwane, including identified key provincial
growth points. The second phase of the programme was to cover 80 per cent of the provincial population, as per
provincial spatial development framework.
“It is of concern that the senior government official who blew the whistle on the irregularity of this project was placed on suspension four days after lodging the complaint,” said the DA’s Risham Maharaj, the provincial spokesperson on matters pertaining to the Office of the Premier.
Maharaj said the DA had further found it strange that Limpopo Connexion is not listed as a subsidiary on LEDA’s website, and that the party would investigate this. “The lack of consequence management in the Office of the Premier is worrisome. Premier Mathabatha and his team should always be beyond reproach, but lately various
allegations immersed, including an illegal appointment which resulted in fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R1,4 million and a criminal case opened by Nehawu, which alleged that R80 000 was paid for services not rendered.
“The lack of completion of this project deprived many people living in rural areas and specifically
our learners of reliable connectivity during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Broadband connectivity at schools could have assisted the Class of 2020, which endured much hardships
trying to prepare for matric examinations.”
The premier’s spokesperson, Willy Mosoma, said ongoing investigations into the multimillion rand broadband
roll-out by the Hawks were as a result of a case opened by a senior government official.
“The allegations related to broadband are not coming to the public domain for the first time. Among
others, they were raised by the unions last year, claiming that they opened a case
against both the premier and the director general.
“Subsequent to that, the provincial government interacted with the Hawks and confirmed they were investigating the matter.”
To date, the premier’s office had not received any formal notification from the Hawks regarding the matter, Mosoma said
