Beaufort West municipality newly re-elected speaker, Noel Constable was among four men who appeared at the Beaufort West Magistrate Court on Friday facing tender fraud charges.
Constable, 47, former Central Karoo District Municipality’s speaker Mkhululi Hangana, 43, Beaufort West municipal official Norwood Kotze, 48, former mayor Quinton Louw, 47, and businessman Taelo Itumeleng Kgobokoe made a brief appearance on Friday where their case was transferred to a court 460 kilometres away.
The group faces tender fraud charges worth R620 000 following a Hawks investigation into allegations of an illegal and irregularly awarded contract back in 2019 relating to the upgrades of roads in the Merweville.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “The matter was transferred to the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court for first appearance on December 3.”
Constable, Hangana, Louw and Kotze handed themselves over to police on September 17 and were released on R5 000 bail each while Kgobokoe, who was arrested on September 30 in the Free State province, is out on R50 000 bail. Kgobokoe’s company, Ithlathi Trading 21cc, is also listed as an accused in the matter.
After their arrests, Hangana and Louw were removed from the ANC’s candidate list ahead of the municipal elections after the party applied its ‘step aside’ policy.
According to the State’s case, the four accused colluded with Kgobokoe to ensure that Ithlathi was awarded a contract to upgrade roads on a project that was already completed by another.
Hangana is said to have been instrumental in bringing Kgobokoe to Beaufort West and allegedly received R55 700 worth in kick-backs between May 2019 and February last year. He is alleged to have paid Louw R8 200 over a three-month period for his cooperation before the contract was even awarded.
Kotze faces charges for allegedly facilitating the submission of invoices for work already completed by a different company while Kgobokoe faces eight charges of fraud and corruption.