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In a significant development in the fight against corruption within South Africa's public sector, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a crucial preservation order against Groen Mintirho, previously known as Enviro Mobi. This company is linked to former Member of Parliament, Pule Mabe. The preservation order, issued by the Special Tribunal, is part of the SIU's broad investigation into alleged procurement irregularities involving several millions of Rand.
The controversy revolves around a failed contract for the delivery of 200 motorised three-wheeler vehicles intended for a waste management project in Gauteng, totaling over R27 million. The contract, issued by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment (GDARD) and the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), ended in significant losses exceeding R25 million due to non-compliance with standard procurement protocols, misrepresentation, and non-delivery.
The court's order restricts Mabe from selling or transferring certain assets including an upscale property situated in Steyn City, Gauteng, and a luxury Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. This decisive move by the SIU is aimed at ensuring that the implicated assets remain secured while the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings determine the extent of the alleged financial misconduct.
The investigation, launched under Presidential Proclamation No. R15 of 2021, highlights the SIU’s efforts to unravel the mismanagement of public funds and to bring accountability to the misuse of state resources. With fraudulent activities and unlawful financial flows at the center of this scandal, the SIU's findings point to a systematic abuse of power that benefitted specific individuals and entities disproportionately.
In an attempt to recover the lost public funds, the SIU has filed a review application at the Special Tribunal to nullify the tender awarded to Groen Mintirho and to recoup the funds unlawfully distributed. This legal action underscores the extent of the SIU's mandate under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996, which empowers the unit to correct any wrongdoings uncovered during their investigations including civil litigation and referrals of criminal evidence to the National Prosecuting Authority.
As the case unfolds, the SIU's actions against Groen Mintirho demonstrate a determined and systematic approach to clamp down on corruption and restore integrity within South Africa's public services. The implications of this case are far-reaching, offering a hopeful precedent for transparency and justice in government dealings.