Pule Mabe, the former spokesperson of the African National Congress (ANC) appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court, sitting in Palm Ridge facing fraud related charges.
Mabe, along with four former senior officials from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), Thandeka Mbassa, Matilda Gasela (both HoDs), former Chief Financial Officer, Adullah Mohamed Ismail, Loyiso Nkwana, the Chief Director-Sustainable Use of the Environment and two employees of KGP Media Holdings (PTY) LTD, Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe and Tinyiko Mahuntsi, were cumulatively charged with 29 counts ranging from fraud, theft, the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, money laundering and assisting another to benefit from proceeds of unlawful activities.
Joined into the proceedings, were two entities, namely, KGP (trading as Enviro Mobi) and Star Mass Direct (trading as Kariki Media Holdings).
The charges stem from the investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) into a tender worth over R27 million that was allegedly unlawfully awarded to Enviro Mobi in March 2017 to supply 200 three-wheeled waste collection vehicles known as tuktuks.
As well as over R6 million of storage costs that was paid by the GDARD.
On 10 February 2017, GDARD advertised a tender inviting proposals for the integration and formalisation of the Gauteng waste Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) into the mainstream waste management economy.
The Department received submissions from ten companies, including Enviro Mobi, a company in which Mabe was a director between September 2010 to August 2014.
He was also a signatory on the business account of KGP Media Holdings, trading as Enviro Mobi.
The State alleges that Makwana, Mbassa and Ismail, facilitated the appointment of Enviro Mobi, represented by Pule Mabe.
The State further alleges that, at the time of the tender award, these companies lacked the necessary expertise and furthermore that, Enviro Mobi allegedly indicated that it had no affiliation with any governmental official and/or Member of Parliament.
From March 2017, Enviro Mobi allegedly submitted invoices worth over R26 million, which were not accompanied by any supporting documentation detailing services rendered or work done and despite this, payments were allegedly authorised by Mkwana and Ismail. These invoices allegedly included payments for tuktuks that were paid without any proof of delivery.
The Auditor General found that GDARD misrepresented its Annual Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2018, indicating that payments worth over R27 million made by GDARD during the 2017/2018 financial year were made in advance but were incorrectly recorded in the GDARD accounting records as expenditure instead of advance payments.
The accused were released on bail of R30 000 each and will return to court on 25 March 2025 as the case was postponed for disclosure of the contents of the docket to all accused.
The NPA remains committed to ensuring accountability and transparency in public procurement processes.