It’s time to arrest ANC cadres implicated in R27 million Ekurhuleni recycling scam

20 September 2021

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, must release the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) report that implicates ANC National Spokesperson, Pule Mabe, who benefitted from an irregular R27 million tender for the delivery of 200 three-wheeler motorbikes intended to benefit 58 waste-pickers in Ekurhuleni.

In 2017, the DA in the Gauteng Legislature flagged this tender as suspicious because it was awarded to Mabe, who at the time was a sitting member of the National Assembly. This was a direct conflict of interest as public office bearers are barred from doing business with the state.

Mabe’s, who is known to be friends with Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, company Enviro Mobi, was supposed to deliver 200 “Karikis” but only delivered 158.

DA City of Ekurhuleni Councillor, Tiaan Kotze identified Platkop landfill site where 60 of these Karikis were found abandoned and left to rot in a field.

MEC Maile, who at the time was the MEC for Economic Development, claimed in 2017 that there was no conflict of interest as Mabe was no longer a director of Enviro Mobi.

This however was simply an outright lie. The draft SIU report, which has been in the possession of Premier Makhura since 2019, indicates that Mabe was still a director of Enviro Mobi at the time of this tender being awarding.

There is no doubt, given the relationship between Mabe, Maile and current Ekurhuleni Mayor, Mzwandile Masina, that this tender was yet just another enrichment scheme to line the pockets of ANC cadres at the expense of those who were to benefit from the scheme.

 I will be submitting a Promotion to Access of Information (PAIA) to the Office of the Premier to obtain a copy of this report.

Because the ANC will not act against its own, I will lay criminal charges against those implicated in the report.

 Residents of Ekurhuleni, especially those who were offered a glimmer of hope through this project, cannot be used as pawns in the ANC’s self-enrichment game.

Issued by Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, 20 September 2021