Africa-Press – South-Africa. Five people accused of tender fraud related to a Dihlabeng Local Municipality infrastructure grant for the upgrade of a pump station, appeared in a Free State court on Thursday.
Ntokozo Shabalala, Mokgeseng Johannes Lesibe, Broody Fezile Thoboza, Isaac Moreki Mosenohi and Sabata Mofokeng face charges of fraud, forgery and uttering in the Fouriesburg Magistrate’s Court, according to the Hawks.
The infrastructure grant was allocated to the municipality for the 2020 upgrade of a Fouriesburg pump station.
News24 previously reported that the project was aimed at alleviating water supply challenges and addressing fresh drinking water supply in four eastern Free State towns.
Shabalala, the former director of infrastructure and development in the municipality, allegedly violated tender processes by appointing Pump Group SA, Turbo Tech, Toboza and Nakeni engineers.
According to the Hawks, the companies claimed more than R9 million but failed to render the required services.
The accused are out on R5 000 bail each.
The case was postponed to 19 June.
It will be transferred to the Bethlehem Commercial Crimes Court.
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