By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal against Groen Mintirho (formerly Enviro Mobi), a company linked to ANC national executive committee member Pule Mabe.
The order restricts Mabe from selling, leasing, transferring, or otherwise dealing with specific assets, including a house located at Steyn City in Gauteng and a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS.
This follows SIU investigation, which revealed that the tender had been awarded irregularly to Enviro-Mobi.
The tender was aimed at supplying 200 three-wheeler vehicles intended for use by 59 waste pickers employed by the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
The tender was awarded to Enviro-Mobi by the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department in 2017 worth R27 million.
According to the Hawks, the contract agreement between the department and Enviro-Mobi specified that the department of agriculture could consider payments only if 50% of the work had been completed, and that no upfront payments were allowed to be made to the company.
The SIU investigation also revealed that the company later sent a letter of demand to the provincial department, requesting an additional payment of over R9 million for “safekeeping, storage, and ancillary services” of the fleet of karikis.
Moreover, Enviro-Mobi did not disclose its connections to Mabe, who is the seventh accused in the case, during the tender bidding process.
Mabe appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court alongside his wife, Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe, and business associate, Tinyiko Mahuntsi last month.
They face charges of corruption, fraud, and theft.
Also facing charges are Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department Chief Director Loyiso Mkwana, former Heads of Department Thandeka Mbassa and Matilda Gasela, and former department Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Abdullah Mohamed Ismail.
Two companies, KG Media (trading as Enviro-Mobi) and Star Mass Direct (trading as Kariki Media Holdings), are also among the accused.
Mabe maintained his innocence, asserting that his company successfully delivered the 200 tuk-tuks, or karikis, to the provincial department.
Payments were made to Enviro-Mobi, and the funds were subsequently transferred to the bank accounts of Mabe, his wife, Mahuntsi, and their family members.
All the accused were granted R30 000 bail each, with conditions. The case was postponed to 25 March 2025.
The SIU has also filed a review application at the Special Tribunal to nullify the tender award and recover funds unlawfully paid to the company.