By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Pule Mabe has appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on graft charges.
Mabe appeared alongside six others, in connection with a R27-million tender.
His company, Enviro Mobi, scored a tender from the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department in March 2017.
Enviro Mobi, was awarded a tender to supply the City of Ekurhuleni with 200 three-wheeler tuk-tuks for waste collection.
However, the company did not disclose its connection to the ANC NEC member when the Gauteng government awarded the contract.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which investigated the matter, found that Enviro Mobi misrepresented itself during the bidding process for the R27 million tender.
The SIU subsequently recommended that the company repay the money, as it was determined to have unduly benefited from a contract obtained irregularly.
Mabe – who is still a member of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) and his co-accused – handed themselves over to the Hawks on Wednesday morning.
Mabe is the latest ANC leader to face charges, following former MPs Zizi Kodwa and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Speaking to the media outside the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court after being granted bail, Mabe confirmed that he had informed ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula of his intention to step down from his NEC duties temporarily.
“On the same token, we advised the integrity commission of the African National Congress of these charges that has been preferred against us. We are not doing so because we are guilty, “he said.
Mabe came to the defence of his wife, Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe, who is a co-accused in the case, saying she “knows nothing about the karikis, she’s never been involved”.
“We are being told today that it constitutes a crime to give our wives monies earned legitimately in business deals, “he told reporters.
“Who is supposed to take care of her? When I spent sleepless nights working at home and being paid for my hard-earned labour, she becomes the rightful beneficiary, her and my kids. There’s nothing wrong [about that] because we have not stolen from anyone.”
The former ANC spokesperson responded to allegations that he did not disclose to Parliament that he was a director of Enviro-Mobi during his tenure as an MP.
“I did not dissociate from Enviro-Mobi, I just resigned as a director because I am expected to do so when I take up public office.”
He further clarified that he was not resigning from the ANC, “just stepping aside”.
Earlier, Mabe defended the tuk-tuks or karikis tender, explaining that his “innovation” was part of the research for his dissertation in pursuit of a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) degree, which he completed at Unisa in 2019.
In my research work, I wrote about this innovation so there’s nothing wrong. Maybe, South Africans need to start knowing that being accused of crimes does not mean you are guilty,” the former ANC MP remarked.
“If it means that will make us look corrupt in the eyes of others, we are ready to pay that solemn price because we are hardworking.”
Mabe, his wife, and business associate Tinyiko Mahuntsi were each granted bail of R30 000.
Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department chief director Loyiso Mkwana, former department HODs Thandeka Mbassa and Matilda Gasela, and former department chief financial officer (CFO) Abdullah Mohamed Ismail were also released on the same bail amount.
They are facing charges of corruption, fraud, and theft. Their case was postponed to 25 March 2025.