Businessman ordered to pay back R7m from scholar transport tender

A businessman has been ordered to pay back R7 million after he inflated kilometres for transporting children attending rural schools.

Oct 21, 2022 - 11:07
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Businessman ordered to pay back R7m from scholar transport tender

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed judgement that ordered RI Mako Trading and Projects, and its director and businessman Remosetlha Isaac Mako has been ordered to pay back over R7 million in inflated school transport money for transporting children attending rural schools in the Dr Ruth Sekgomotsi Mompati District in North West.

On Thursday, 20 October 2022, the Special Tribunal ordered RI Mako Trading to pay back R7 479 648.44 it unlawfully gained from the North West Department of Community Safety & Transport Management and pay for the SIU’s legal costs.

NORTH WEST BUSINESSMAN ORDERED TO PAY BACK R7 MILLION 

The judgement follows an investigation by the  SIU which revealed that RI Mako Trading submitted invoices to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport for the period 2010 to 2017 that have inflated kilometres and have unduly enriched themselves through the submission of inflated kilometres. 

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said although Mako denied allegations against him and his company, he did not dispute that he inflated the kilometres travelled as claimed and contended that they claimed for kilometres as verified by the Department and were paid based on their invoices as approved by the department.

Kganyakgo said the SIU was authorised to investigate by the President of the Republic under Proclamation R.2 of 2018, following widespread allegations of irregularities concerning the appointment and overpayment of service providers contracted in terms of the scholar transport tender.

“The Special Tribunal order is a continuation of implementation of the SIU investigations outcomes and consequence management to recover monies lost by the Department of Community Safety & Transport Management in North West. There are other cases enrolled in the Special Tribunal awaiting adjudication and will result in recoveries for the department.”

Kaizer Kganyago

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