Political Parties React to KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC's Alleged Link to Food Nutrition Tender

• Opposition parties have called on the Special Investigating Unit to investigate KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka's alleged involvement in a food nutrition scandal
• He was accused of influencing the bidding process of a nutrition programme tender to favour a company he is allegedly linked to
• South Africans slammed him and called for him to be removed as a government official pending an investigation

With 10 years of experience, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, has provided insights into infrastructure challenges and state-owned enterprises in South Africa, having worked at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

KWAZULU-NATAL — The KwaZulu-Natal ME for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, has been implicated in a Schools Nutrition Scheme contract in the province. Opposition parties have called for him to be investigated.

According to eNCA, Hlomuka has been linked to a company that stands to benefit from the tender. The Department is currently in the process of dealing with appeals and objections before the contract is finalised. Hlomuka reportedly registered a company called Apigugu Trading in 2015. He added a relative as the company director three years later, in November.

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In 2019, his and the relative's details were changed, and a month after he was appointed as the province's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, his name disappeared from the company.

The company bids for the tender

The department in April this year announced three companies it intends to reward with the tender. Apigugu Trading was named as one of the companies to benefit. The province's Premier, Thami Ntuli, said the investigations into the allegations are at an advanced stage.

ActionSA slams the Premier

However, ActionSA's KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Zwakele Mncwango said that Ntuli may exonerate Hlomuka to protect his position as the Government of Provincial Unity leader.

He also said Ntuli may not fire Hlomuka or other MECs under investigation. The Democratic Alliance has called on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to probe the matter.

Recent cases of corruption

In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a probe into corruption allegations within the Housing Development Agency. He signed a proclamation mandating the Special Investigating Unit to investigate various projects in different provinces in South Africa.

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The African National Congress's former MEC member, Pule Mabe, returned to court in July after he was arrested and charged with corruption. He was charged with theft, money laundering, and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act after his company irregularly received a R27 million waste collection tender.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens, commenting on Facebook, shared their concerns.

Caslvin Baloyi said:

"Nothing is going to happen to him. He's protected by his comrades."

Denise Veller asked:

"Thieving from hungry children. How low can one stoop to?"

Sipho Khanyile said:

"We are no longer surprised by corruption committed by ANC leaders."

Mbuso Tholly Mzimela said:

"Nothing is gonna happen to him as long as he is in Ramaphosa's faction."

Bongani Mgubela said:

"Earning fat checks but stealing."

Suspended IDT CEO allegedly tried to bribe a journalist

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the suspended Independent Development Trust's CEO, Tebogo Malaka, was caught allegedly trying to bribe a journalist. The incident happened in early August.

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Malaka and the IDT's spokesperson met with the journalist and asked him to stop an investigation into one of Malaka's properties. She offered him R60,000 in exchange for his cooperation.

Malaka family trust rejects R60,000 bribery claims

Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that the Malaka Family Trust has come out in support of Tebogo Malaka, saying that she’s at the centre of a campaign to discredit her. The Independent Development Trust (IDT) Chief Executive Officer is in hot water after a video surfaced of her and the IDT spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, allegedly trying to bribe a journalist.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson opened a criminal case at the Cape Town Police Station following the release of the video, which appears to show Malaka and Makgolane attempting to bribe investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh with R60,000.

In an official statement, the MFT claimed that it was an attempt to damage her reputation.

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“Let us be clear. Ms Malaka did not offer a bribe, did not suggest one, and did not take out or authorise any money. The cash in question was produced by the IDT spokesperson, not Ms. Malaka. She did not invite the journalist, did not know him before the meeting, and did not select the venue or arrange the setup,” the statement read.

Source: Briefly News