Mbombela - There was nothing suspicious in a former head of department's awarding of a R140 million tender to a security company, the Nelspruit Regional Court heard on Wednesday.
Robert Masambo, supply chain management director in the provincial treasury, was testifying in the fraud case against former community safety department head Thulani Sibuyi, 37, and GNT Security owner Vusi Mashaba, 41, a Sapa correspondent reported.
Sibuyi has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges while Mashaba pleaded not guilty to fraud, forgery, and uttering.
Prosecutor Patrick Nkuna asked Masambo if any deviation or variation of orders were brought to attention.
“There was nothing that we were made aware of on deviation or variation in this matter. As supply chain management, our work is make sure that all the department's accounting officers comply and rules are followed,” Masambo said.
Nkuna told the court on Wednesday that the SA Revenue Service (Sars) officials who were supposed to testify were not available.
“Before we proceed My Lady, I want to put a submission to this court that our witnesses from Sars are not available. One has been booked off as he is sick and is set to undergo an operation.
“The other is no longer working for Sars, so she asked that we call her in time because she now works in Johannesburg,” said Nkuna.
Sibuyi and Mashaba handed themselves to Nelspruit police on August 8 last year after a warrant of arrest was issued for them.
They were released on R50 000 bail each.
Nkuna previously told the court that Mashaba, on behalf of his company GNT, submitted a fraudulent tax certificate when applying for a tender to provide security to government property or entities around the Gert Sibande region.
Magistrate Vanessa Joubert postponed the trial to Thursday.
Sapa