EASTERN CAPE – The Serious Corruption Investigation of the Hawks arrested three suspects yesterday morning in East London and Port Elizabeth respectively for two different cases relating to fraud and corruption.
Baxolile Ngoloyi (35) and Simthembile Smith (29) subsequently appeared at the Specialised Commercial Crime court in Port Elizabeth yesterday whilst Samnkelo Nkwateni (42), appeared in the East London Magistrate court for an unrelated case.
It is alleged that between December 2017 and June 2018, Ngoloyi a systems controller at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s (BCM) health department, manipulated the department’s system by executing fraudulent payments to Ngoloyi’s company even though the company never rendered any services for the department.
Approximately R120 000 was paid out to the company while the department stopped a payment of R140 000 before it could be made as the latter suspected malpractice. BCM reported the alleged crime to the Hawks in June 2018.
Ngoloyi and Smith were each granted R500 bail by the Specialised Commercial Crime court. Their next court appearance will be on the 17th of February 2020.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that during the year 2018 Nkwateni, an administration clerk at the department of Labour in East London, demanded payment from two businesspeople in exchange for a letter of good standing.
One businessperson paid him R5000 while the other one paid R3000 for a letter the department in actual fact issues for free.
The department reported the alleged crime to the Hawks during November 2018 and the latter swiftly commenced with its investigation.
Nkwateni’s next court appearance in the East London Magistrate court will be on the 3rd of February 2020 where he will be given the opportunity to apply for bail.
