VEHICLE BOUGHT THROUGH GRATIFICATION IN PPE TENDER MATTER FORFEITED TO THE STATE
The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, sitting in East London has granted the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit an order for the forfeiture of a vehicle bought for a senior Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) as gratification for awarding a tender for the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Mercedes Benz V-class was purchased through an elaborate money laundering scheme which involved the payment of R328 000 by the supplier, Sigqibo Makupula of Kups Trading, for a deposit to purchase the R800 000 vehicle for ECDEO Chief Director for Supply Chain Management, Marius Harmse.
Last year, the court granted AFU a preservation order of R328 000. It has now ordered that the state assume control of the vehicle, dispose of it through sale, and deposit the proceeds into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA), as the vehicle is an instrumentality of corruption and represents the proceeds of unlawful activities. Harmse was responsible for the department that signed off on the tender that resulted in Makupula being paid R4 million by ECDOE on 31 August 2020. He was therefore conflicted when he accepted the R328 000, paid as a deposit on the Mercedes V Series from Ronnies Motors.
The granting of this forfeiture order is part and parcel of the law enforcement agencies’ unwavering efforts to address corruption and to return proceeds of crime back to the state.
