EASTERN CAPE - Fraud allegations between the State, Cikizwa Gqiba (59) and Dumisani Mdeliswa (52) was re-instated against the accused after the arrest of No-Ayini Siphokazi Livi (65) on 8 May 2023 by the Mthatha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks.
It is alleged that in 2008, the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Secondary Co-Operation (Co-Op) Ltd in Mthatha was awarded a tender by the Department of Education (DoE) to supply nutrition to 31 schools around KSD Municipality. The Co-Op is reported to have appointed two sub-contractors, Mandla Commodity Food and WTT Caterers to supply food to the schools and agreed that the department would make payments to the suppliers’ accounts to deduct their share and deposit the balance to the account of the Co-Op.
It is further alleged that Mandla Commodity received money from the DoE in March 2008 and four accused; Gqiba, Mdeliswa, the late Zingisa Enock Madonyela (66) and the recently arrested Livi are reported to have misled the director of Mandla Commodity. They allegedly claimed that they were the newly appointed board members of the Co-Op whereas they were not. The director subsequently transferred more than R1.5 million to the account provided which was later established to belong to Livi. The four accused allegedly misappropriated the funds for their personal gain.
The chairperson of the Co-Op reported the matter to the Hawks which led to the arrest of Gqiba and Mdeliswa on 29 April 2021. After numerous court appearances, the case was provisionally struck off the court roll while Livi was being sought. Madonyela passed on in 2015.
On 8 May 2023 Livi appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court together with her co-accused; Gqiba and Mdeliswa who were served with summons to reappear. Livi was released on warning and the matter was postponed to 2 June 2023 for docket contents.