The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a preservation order barring the former ANC MP Pule Mabe from selling his Porche and house in Steyn City. The preservation order was granted today by the Special Tribunal against a company linked to Mabe in connection with the allegations of fraud and corruption involving a R27 million tender that was allegedly unlawfully awarded to his company Enviro Mobi. 

RESTRICTED FROM SELLING HOUSE AND LUXURY CAR 

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that the order restricts Mabe from selling, leasing and transferring his house at Steyn City and the luxury Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. "In addition to the preservation order, the SIU has filed a review application at the Special Tribunal to nullify the tender award and recover funds unlawfully paid to the company linked to Mabe, Groen Mintirho," Kganyago said. He added that the SIU's investigation, initiated under Presidential Proclamation No. R15 of 2021, uncovered irregularities in the procurement of 200 motorised three-wheeler vehicles valued at more than R27 million for a waste management project in Ekurhuleni." Despite payments made to Enviro Mobi, evidence indicates non-compliance with procurement regulations, misrepresentation, and failure to deliver contracted services," he said. 

TENDER FRAUD

The company, linked to Mabe and his wife, was irregularly awarded a R27 million tender by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture in 2017. According to the Hawks, the contract agreement between the department and Enviro-Mobi stipulated that the department could consider payment only after completing 50% of the work, with no upfront payments allowed to the service provider. It's alleged that the department's chief director, Loyiso Mkwana, and the CFO at the time, Abdulla Ismail, processed and paid more than R25 million to the company for 200 motorised three-wheelers, though all goods were still with the service provider. The Hawks investigations also uncovered that Enviro-Mobi later issued a letter of demand to the department demanding a further payment of more than R9m for safekeeping, storage, and ancillary services relating to the fleet. After the payments were made to Enviro-Mobi, the money was transferred to Mabe, his wife, and their family members. Mabe, his wife, and co-accused who worked for the Gauteng Department of Agriculture at the time, Mkwana, Thandeka Mbassa, Ismail, Matilda Gasela, and Tinyiko Mahuntsi handed themselves over to the police last month after the warrants for their arrests were issued. They appeared in court on charges of fraud and corruption, and they were released on R30,000 bail each. They are due to appear in court on 5 December.