In the wake of former Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s arrest, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) finds itself embroiled in yet another corruption scandal.
Retired Brigadier General Mendis Eddy Mondlane and Mugisha Charles Mwali recently appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crime Court following their arrest by military police. They face charges related to irregularities in a R2 million tender for heat-resistant buffs and military goggles for peacekeeping missions in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Mondlane, previously with Joint Operations, faces three fraud charges. Meanwhile, Mwali, director of Phomolo Enterprises, the company awarded the contract in 2016, is charged with fraud for misrepresentations supporting the tender award.
The charges stem from a 2015 request by Joint Operations for heat-resistant buffs and military goggles to protect soldiers from dust-related illnesses during South African peacekeeping efforts in Sudan, which concluded in 2016 after 12 years.
The state alleges that Mondlane approved Phomolo Enterprises as the service provider, leading to a R2.1 million contract in 2016. Mondlane and Mwali were granted bail of R10,000 and R5,000, respectively, with both denying the charges. The case is set for further investigation on July 17.
In a related development, retired Brigadier General Linda John Selepe and Sergeant Sibusiso Bewana were also arrested. They face fraud charges connected to the same tender case and were each granted R5,000 bail.
Meanwhile, more corruption allegations have emerged in Mapisa-Nqakula’s case. She is accused of receiving bribes totaling R2.3 million between 2017 and 2019 from defence contractor Nombasa Ndhlovu. Ndhlovu, now a State witness, alleges the bribes were aimed at securing contracts for her company, Umkhombe Marine, worth over R200 million.
Mapisa-Nqakula, after turning herself in, was released on R50,000 bail. Prosecutors allege Ndhlovu also made payments to “Perfume De Lux,” owned by the wife of Lieutenant General Derrick Mgwebi, former head of Joint Operations. While Mgwebi has not been charged, the state alleges he received ‘gratifications’ between 2011 and 2016 to influence tender awards.
The Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU) indicated that Mgwebi was not part of the bid evaluation or adjudication committees when Ndhlovu’s company secured tenders. However, evidence suggests he unlawfully influenced these committees to favour Ndhlovu and Umkhombe Marine.
Mgwebi could potentially testify against Mapisa-Nqakula in her case, which has been postponed to June 4 with the addition of another defendant.
The SANDF faces mounting scrutiny as these corruption allegations continue to unfold, casting shadows over its operations and integrity.