Following an extensive investigation, an operation by the National Clean Audit Task Team of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation led to the arrest of the 58-year-old Director General from the Premier office in KwaZulu-Natal at her home and her 47-year-old accomplice. Both individuals are arrested on allegations of defeating the ends of justice and intimidation.
The Chairperson of the Mhlathuze Water Board of Kwazulu Natal reported allegations of irregular appointment of service providers (Legal panel) without following the Supply Chain Management protocols of the Mhlathuze Water Board, as well as contravention of section 51(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999 by not complying with the operational policies of the public entity. Investigations revealed that some senior officials are implicated in the irregularities which resulted in the Mhlathuze Water Board of Kwazulu Natal being prejudiced by an amount of +/ – R37 million.
Following the investigation thereof and compilation of the forensic report, the Chairperson of the Mhlathuze Water Board allegedly received a visit from an unknown person at her home claiming to be from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and that he was sent by the Senior Manager in the Premier Office. The alleged individual threatened the Chairperson with arrest and demanded a forensic report. He further insisted that the complainant must stop the investigation against the Mhlathuze Water Board members
It later emerged that the said person was not from the National Intelligence Agency and that he was in cahoots with persons of interests implicated in the investigation.
The operation is ongoing and so far two more people implicated in the malfeasance at bulk water utility Mhlathuze Water have been arrested on charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering. All arrested individuals will appear in the Durban Magistrate court soon.
More arrests are imminent.