Sanral suspends top official

INVESTIGATION: MHELEMBE FACES CHARGES LINKED TO R1.57BN CHINESE TENDER AWARD

- Roy Cokayne

The suspension by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) of its chief procurement officer, Khomotso Mhelembe, is believed to be related to her alleged interference in tender awards, particularly the suspended award of the R1.57 billion Masekwaspoort tender.

This tender was awarded to the Chinese Base Major Construction-China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) joint venture (JV) in November 2024.

Sanral on Friday declined to provide reasons for the suspension of Mhelembe or chief audit executive Zolisa Zwakala.

However, construction industry sources claim Mhelembe's suspension is not precautionary and she is facing charges, including charges flowing from the findings of the investigation launched into the award of the Masekwaspoort tender to the Base Major Construction-CSCEC JV.

JV partners 'failed to meet requirements'

The sources claim an audit into the award of the tender found that CSCEC did not comply with or meet the requirements of the tender to have completed at least one project in South Africa valued at a minimum of R400 million.