A concerned Polokwane resident who published material on his social media platforms revealing allegations of tender fraud, has defended his position. Thapelo Molepo leaked documents which detailed alleged tender irregularities within the Polokwane Municipality amounting to more than R700 million.
The leaked documents suggest that some of the tender beneficiaries of the alleged irregularly awarded contracts are individuals allegedly connected to the executive mayor, John Mpe, and the municipal manager, Thuso Nemugumoni. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has meanwhile, opened a criminal case of fraud and corruption against the implicated municipal officials.
Molepo has published material that indicates that some of the 28-companies are allegedly owned by close associates of the executive mayor, and municipal manager. Molepo says he was motivated to post the information by the need to see Polokwane residents get quality services.
“The purpose to expose all the mismanagement of resources and, the administrative challenges that are happening in Polokwane, it was to let the people of Polokwane know that the reason why we are not happy with the quality of services is part and parcel necessarily because some of the companies that have been awarded a lot of projects, some of them are incomplete in every ward,” says Molepo.
Some of the documents reveal what appears to be duplicate payments to a single company. They also further reportedly tie the municipality to the awarding of tenders to companies owned by documented foreign nationals.
Molepo says he did not share the information in order to receive benefits or contracts.
“I’m just a concerned resident who wishes that there be proper management in Polokwane so that it is our people who can benefit because those resources could have created a lot of opportunities for our young people in Polokwane. It could have invested in the future of our young people by making sure that they build quality and long-term roads and water projects in Polokwane. So, my wish is that everything goes well, and I don’t have any interest in the benefits in Polokwane, none whatsoever.”
The EFF has called for the dissolution of the municipal council and the re-running of elections. EFF chairperson, Lawrence Mapoulo, says they have called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to direct the SIU to investigate the allegations.
“We therefore, call the state president to sign a proclamation for the SIU to investigate. This investigation must look into the following areas of focus: the relationship of the executive mayor John Mpe and all companies mentioned in the document. The investigation into or funding of the Makoro Foundation and how the funds flow from the foundation, how many councillors, in particular MMCs are beneficiaries of vehicle scheme,” says Mapoulo.
Mapoulo says his party is preparing for rolling strike action until steps are taken.
“We have opened a case; we have already taken a step. The next step now is rolling mass action, like I indicated. The deadline is on the 13th of August. I think, it’s a tentative date where we will be calling all the stakeholders for this rolling mass action so that we can see who can be the winner between John Mpe and the people.”
Mpe has previously referred to the allegations levelled against him as a smear campaign.
Video: Tender whistleblower breaks silence
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