By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Veli Nhlapo.
A controversial Covid-19 PPE contract linked to the daughter of African National Congress (ANC) first deputy secretary Nomvula Mokonyane has been set aside.
In a judgment delivered on 25 March 2026, Judge David Makhoba ruled that two contracts awarded to their company, Tark Group Pty Ltd, by the Mpumalanga Department of Health were unlawful, constitutionally invalid, and void from the outset.
The contracts were awarded to Katleho Mokonyane and her business partner, Bonelela Mgudlwa. The latter is radio personality Anele Mdoda’s husband. They celebrated their wedding in 2025.
The tribunal found that procurement processes were bypassed and that the company failed to meet key compliance requirements.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed that the department paid over R14.3 million for medical jumpsuits and surgical masks, despite the supplier lacking proper accreditation at the time and failing to disclose potential conflicts of interest.
“The contracts, valued at R1,080,000.00 for 60,000 surgical masks and R13,297,500.00 for 150,000 protective medical jumpsuits, were declared constitutionally invalid, unlawful, and void, “said Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson Selby Makgotho on Thursday.
The SIU, which brought the case, said its probe uncovered systemic failures in how the contracts were awarded during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The SIU investigations revealed that Tark Group (Pty) Ltd benefited unlawfully from contracts worth over R14-million,” Makgotho said.
The Tribunal went further, ordering Katleho and Mgudlwa to personally repay profits earned from the deals, applying the principle of disgorgement.
“The Tribunal also held the co-owners personally liable for unlawful gains,” Makgotho added.
In a damning account of the procurement process, the SIU said the department bypassed critical safeguards meant to ensure fairness and transparency.
“The SIU’s investigations revealed systemic violations of procurement laws, including bypassing bid committees, deviations from transversal contracts, and the appointment of a supplier lacking accreditation and the requisite SAHPRA licence,” Makgotho said.
The Tribunal also noted the SIU’s argument that certain relationships were not disclosed, including Katleho’s link to her mother, Nomvula Mokonyane, who has served as a cabinet minister in several portfolios, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
The Tribunal also turned its focus to the conduct of the Mpumalanga Department of Health itself, finding that its actions were central to the irregularities.
“The department issued premature promissory letters of award, bypassed mandatory bid evaluation and adjudication committees, and accepted non-compliant bids,” Makgotho said.
Earlier in 2022, the same company was implicated in a R2.7 million soap tender for the Gauteng Health Department, which was found to be overcharged by more than R1.1 million.
The SIU report, released in January 2022, revealed that Mokonyane, paid R1.6 million from her personal account on behalf of the privately-owned company to supply the department with 200,000 soap bars.