GAUTENG—Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, has announced the arraignment of former Transnet managers Lerato Makenete and Hawkins Madubane, along with service providers Jacob Malusi Ramoyadi and Kenneth Rikhotso, on corruption charges related to COVID-19 procurements.
According to South African Police Service, the accused, including the service providers and their respective companies—Ramoyadi Air Conditioning and Electrical, and Ndzalo 2 Trading—allegedly conspired to supply Transnet with over one million disposable alcohol breathalyser straws at inflated prices, leading to a fraudulent total expenditure of over R33 million. They are charged with fraud, theft, and money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). The case, which was registered at the Midrand police station in June 2023, revealed that procurement procedures were bypassed, and undisclosed associations with the service providers were maintained. The former executives and their accomplices were granted bail at R10,000 each with stringent conditions, including non-interference with ongoing investigations or witnesses. Their next court appearance is scheduled for 4 September 2024.