The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order to prevent former ANC MP and spokesperson Pule Mabe from selling or transferring assets, including his Steyn City property and a Porsche Carrera. This development is tied to a controversial R27-million tender awarded in 2017 for the supply of tuk-tuks to waste pickers in Ekurhuleni.
The SIU’s probe into the tender revealed irregularities and alleged financial mismanagement, with the Special Tribunal now reviewing the matter to recover unlawfully awarded funds.
Allegations of Fraud and Mismanagement
The tender in question was granted to Groen Mintirho, previously Enviro Mobi, for the procurement of 200 three-wheeled tuk-tuks intended for waste collection. Despite substantial payments to the company, the SIU discovered non-compliance with procurement regulations, misrepresentation, and a failure to deliver services as agreed.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago stated that public funds were mismanaged, with fraudulent activities linked to tender awards resulting in financial losses exceeding R25 million. Unlawful financial flows allegedly benefited individuals, including Mabe and other implicated parties.
Legal Battles and Asset Freeze
Mabe, along with his wife and five co-accused, appeared in court in October facing 29 charges, including fraud, theft, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act. The accused also include former senior officials from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and employees of KGP Media Holdings.
Each was released on R30,000 bail, and the case was postponed to 25 March. The SIU’s preservation order prohibits Mabe from leasing or selling his high-value assets, including the Steyn City property—where homes are priced from R2.2 million upwards—and his Porsche 911 Carrera GTS.
Mabe’s Defence and ANC Implications
Speaking to the media, Mabe maintained his innocence, claiming he was unfairly targeted for providing funds to his wife to start a business.
“We trust in the ability of the investigating team and the prosecutorial team to consider the correct facts,” he said.
Mabe’s financial disclosures during his tenure as an ANC MP from 2014 to 2017 revealed his links to Enviro Mobi. However, the state argues that these connections were concealed during the tender process.
Mabe, who served as the ANC’s national spokesperson from 2018 to 2023, stepped down from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) amid the legal battle, in adherence to the ANC’s resolution for members facing charges to vacate positions.
The Path Ahead
As the case proceeds, the SIU aims to recover lost funds and hold those involved accountable. The controversy surrounding Mabe is part of broader corruption challenges facing South Africa, with the public and opposition parties calling for transparency and justice.
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