Bitou run by ‘criminal syndicate’

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Explosive allegations of bribery and intimidation are being levelled against some of Bitou's top brass. It involves a contract for the construction of the controversial Qolweni housing project which led to violent protests in Plettenberg Bay recently.

Good Party Secretary-General and member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Brett Herron, said in a statement on Tuesday 27 July that an affidavit filed in the Western Cape High Court revealed how a "criminal syndicate" operating at the highest level in the Bitou Municipality "sought to feast on revenue generated for a sorely needed housing contract".

The founding affidavit was filed by Dr Anele Hammond of Hammond and Hammond Transactional Law Clinic - a public benefit organisation authorised render legal and financial management services to underprivileged communities at no cost.

The organisation partners with local SMMEs to educate communities in a practical way while earning an income to sustain community projects.

Ukhana Projects tendered for the construction of 169 top structures (houses) in the Qolweni housing project but, after it was awarded the close to R38-million contract, ceded the contract to Hammond and Hammond.

Herron said that the municipality cancelled the contract after Dr Hammond refused to participate in a "corrupt scheme involving the town's top officials".

"The contractors want the court to reinstate the project," Herron said.

During a public meeting on 8 June, following five days of violent protest action that saw the N2 barricaded, Acting Mayor Sandiso Gcabayi formally requested the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements to take over the project. MEC for the department, Tertuis Simmers, said that the appointment of a new contractor was being fast-tracked.Peter Lobese

Affidavit allegations

Herron explained the content of the affidavit that Dr Hammond filed. She identified former mayor, now speaker, Peter Lobese; former deputy mayor Gcabayi; Municipal Manager Lonwabo Ngoqo and Director of Community Services Thozamile Sompani as part of this group who allegedly demanded a R700 000 "sweetener plus a monthly kickback linked to payments made against certificates of completion".

She alleges that Lobese visited her home to claim what had been promised to his "comrades", and that Ngoqo visited her home on 20 December 2020, presenting a new variation order to extend the contract.

Hammond claimed that Ngoqo reiterated the initial demand and instructed her to pay an extra R500 000 for the new variation order before Christmas Day to be shared among the municipality's top six officials.

It is further alleged that Sompani called Hammond stating that the payment was not negotiable and that it would mean they would get a further contract for 484 more housing units.

"Hammond's affidavit further details break-ins at her house and threats to herself and her daughter."

Lobese, Gcabayi, Ngoqo and Sompani did not comment on the allegations before KPH went to print.Sandiso Gcabayi

'Looting' condemned

The Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM) has in the meantime condemned what it labelled the "looting of municipal coffers by top management".

"The IPM has received the court submission and affidavit implicating the officials," IPM spokesman Sivuyile Nkomo said.

"Bitou municipality has no leadership, as the current leadership has broken the social contract between local government and us local Plettonians. We therefore call for an immediate suspension of the implicated individuals pending the outcomes of the case in the High Court."

Nkomo said the party was now calling on provincial government to intervene and place the municipality under administration until local government elections can take place.

Nkomo added that the IPM would be serving a petition on the MEC for Local Government Anton Bredell to take action in this matter. "Furthermore the IPM will be writing to the office of the Public Prosecutor in order for them to investigate these allegations, as they are very concerning."

Thozamile Sompani