Cape Town – A former South African National Parks (SANParks) employee, who is alleged to have corruptly received a fully-paid holiday for two in Mauritius as well as a plasma television set and R50 000 cash, appeared in a court in Cape Town on Friday.
Former SANParks West Coast project manager Terrence Claassen, 40, a Worcester resident, appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville before Magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
He has still to plead to four counts of fraud, four of corruption, one of forgery and uttering, and one of theft.
According to the charge sheet, he was the manager of a poverty-relief infrastructure project, involving the upgrade and supply of electricity and water to the Kraalbaai settlement in the West Coast National Park.
The project involved the installation of a 16 kilometre 11 kilovolts electrical supply and water pipeline.
Due to the complexities of the project, SANParks engaged an engineer for the planning and design of the power supply, while technicians did the planning and design of the pipeline.
According to SANParks’ procurement policies, purchases or contracts above the value of R200 000 had to go out on a formal tender process.
According to the charge sheet, all the processes and procedures were explained to Claassen.
Prosecutor Jannie Knipe alleges that Claassen nevertheless issued “unauthorised, fraudulent orders” to two suppliers – Peakstar 168 (Pty) Ltd and Cross Traders, totalling R4 272 558.
This was for the delivery of a 62km pipe instead of the 16km one required by the specifications. This forms the basis of the fraud charges.
On the corruption charges, he is alleged to have had a corrupt relationship with the two companies, which resulted in Peakstar giving him the holiday for two in Mauritius, and Cross Traders the plasma TV set and R50 000 cash.
On the forgery charge, he is alleged to have forged a written quotation for R833 182, purporting to be issued by Langebaan Builders, for services to be rendered, and submitted it to SANParks for payment.
The State alleges he stole amounts totalling R4000, which he had to deposit into SANParks’ bank account.
He was warned to appear in court again on September 9.
ANA