SIU orders MEC to act over irregular R2.5m school toilet tender

KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has been ordered by the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) Special Tribunal to act against 16 senior departmental officials embroiled in the irregular and unlawful awarding of a R2.5 million chemical toilets contract for schools.

- Sipho Mabena

The order forms part of a wider judgment that not only set aside the contract awarded to Hawulethu in June 2020, but also directed the company to repay all profits earned from the deal.

The tribunal, a specialised court established under the SIU Act to speedily recoup public funds lost to corruption, fraud and illicit money flows, also ordered Hawulethu to submit an audited statement of accounts within 30 days and reimburse the department, with interest, as well as legal costs of the review application.

Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the graft-busting unit, said they had uncovered large-scale procurement breaches in the matter, welcoming the ruling as reinforcing "accountability where it matters most", by placing responsibility in the hands of the MEC.

According to the ruling, the officials range from top management in finance, supply chain and administrative roles.