Pule Mabe makes his first appearance in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court, on graft charges.
Bernadette Wicks
- Former ANC MP and party spokesperson Pule Mabe has appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
- The charges relate to a 2017 tender Mabe’s company, Enviro Mobi, scored from the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department to supply 200 tuk tuks – or “karikis” – for waste pickers in Ekurhuleni.
- Mabe and his six co-accused – including his wife – face charges of fraud, theft and contravening of Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) as well as the Prevention of Organized Crime Act (POCA).
Former ANC MP and party spokesperson Pule Mabe has appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on graft charges, alongside six others.
This in connection with a R27-million tender his company, Enviro Mobi, scored from the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department in March 2017.
The tender was for the supply of 200 tuk-tuks – known as “karikis” – for waste pickers in Ekurhuleni.
President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Specialised Investigating Unit (SIU) to look into the tender in 2021. The resultant report found that Enviro Mobi’s appointment was irregular and recommended civil action be instituted against the company, and that the department open a criminal case of fraud.
While Mabe disclosed his links to Enviro Mobi when he was appointed as an MP in 2016, the company is accused of covering it up when it bid for the tender.
A huge portion of the tender’s total value – R25 million – was also allegedly forked out before any vehicles had even been handed over, despite an agreement that no upfront payments would be made and that the department could only consider paying on condition that 50% of the work had been completed.
Further, the company later allegedly issued a letter of demand – for more than R9 million – for safe-keeping and storage of the fleet, among other things.
Mabe is joined in the dock by Loyiso Mkwana, Thandeka Mbassa, Matilda Gasela and Adullah Mohamed Ismail – who were all working at the department at the time of the alleged offences – as well as Mabe’s wife, Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe, and Enviro Mobi director Tinyiko Mahuntsi.
They face a total of 29 charges of fraud, theft and contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), as well as the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
They were set to apply for bail on Wednesday.
.
