The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the dismissal of an official from Mpumalanga in connection with a fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering scandal related to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The dismissal is one of many actions that signal zero tolerance to unchecked corruption.
The official, Kobus Sifiso Mkhabela -- who was in the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads, and Transport -- was dismissed following an investigation and subsequent disciplinary referral by the corruption-busting unit. Mkhabela was dismissed due to a case linked to a fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering scandal related to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was arrested in 2022 on charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
“A SIU investigation revealed that Mkhabela is one of the senior management officials, who awarded multimillion rand COVID-19 [PPE] tenders to suppliers, who did not deliver the services.
“These suppliers paid substantial kick-backs to the senior management officials and their family members in different ways. The investigation uncovered multiple instances of corruption, fraud, theft and money laundering committed by senior managers and service providers involved in procuring PPE disinfection services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the SIU said.
Mkhabela has also been taken to court by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), where an order was granted to seize various assets and property.
He is also facing prosecution by the NPA in the Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
On 31 January 2025, SAnews reported that the Hawks had secured scores of suspects linked to corruption cases nationwide.
READ | Hawks make significant progress in combatting serious crime
– SAnews.gov.za
