Whistleblowers hailed for exposing alleged graft in Swellendam

A FORENSIC report has flagged a number of procurement irregularities, misconduct, possible corruption and tender fraud in the DA-led Swellendam municipality.

- NICOLA DANIELS

The investigation by Nexus Forensic Services follows similar findings by Advocate Etienne Vermaak last year, which included recommendations for criminal charges against senior officials implicated in the wrongdoing.

Nexus was tasked with reviewing the preliminary report findings and conducting further investigation. The investigation included several tenders namely, SMT01/24/25, SMT16/23/24, SMT44/23/24, SMT45/23/24, SMT19/23/24,SMT22/23/24, SMT52/22/23 and SMT33/17/18.

Its findings include conflicts of interest, fraud and forgery for preference to win certain tenders.

"There is prima facie evidence of forgery (writing Individual C’s name) and uttering (knowing that the attendance register is returned to the Municipality and would form part of the evaluation documents); when Individual B misrepresented the attendance of Individual C when he signed the register. There is prima facie evidence of fraud, in that Individual B failed to write his own name; that caused the Municipality not knowing that Individual B - the son of Individual A - attended the meeting.