The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has welcomed the arrest of seven School Governing Body (SGB) members from the Western Cape Sport School who were caught for allegedly smokkeling a security contract worth over R3 million.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani says the arrests include the chairman of the SGB, a former principal, the financial manager, teachers and parents.
The suspects appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday following an investigation into the tender dating back to 2016.
“The school governing body of the Western Cape Sport School embarked on a security service tender for the appointment of a security service provider at the School in August 2016,” says Hani.
“It is reported that during November 2016, the opening tender register recorded nine bidders for the tender. Daring Security CC represented by the chairman of the SGB, James Ketelo, 52, did not submit a tender.”
She says in December 2016 the SGB reviewed the tender register and it was discovered that Daring Security CC had been added on the opening tender register.
“The Investigation revealed that none of the correct procedures were followed by the SGB members and the tender was awarded to the chairman of the SGB from January 2017 to December 2019. The company received payments of over R3.1 million for this period.”
She says the Hawks busted the suspects in Cape Town between June and July.
Ketelo along with Mogamat Shaheed Khan, Saville Fledermaus, Eric Peter Croy, Nadia Maymam, Twobot Bekezela Moyo, Lesel Bronwen Braaf appeared in court where they faced charges of fraud and money laundering.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the department was made aware of the allegations and reported the matter to cops: “The WCED welcomes the arrests.”
monique.duval@inl.co.za