Ezemvelo KZN Management Issues

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

KZN park director, game ranger and municipal employee in court over R100m fraud
21 December 2021 - 09:52
Nivashni Nair Senior reporter
The trio was arrested in a undercover sting operation conducted by the SA Police Service Cold Case unit and the Directorate for Public Prosecution in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.

An iSimangaliso Wetland Park director, a game ranger and a building capacity manager employed by the St Lucia municipality appeared in the Empangeni magistrate's court on Monday on charges relating to fraud, corruption, theft and racketeering involving R100m.

Caiphus Khumalo, Nkosinathi Victor Ntshangase and Nokuthula Lafuleni-Zungu were arrested in an undercover sting operation conducted by the SA Police Service cold case unit and the director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.


“Investigations revealed that some of the suspects were allegedly demanding money from various service providers that were contracted to do work for the St Lucia municipality in Mtubatuba,” said police spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo.

“It was further established that money was paid into accounts linked to at least three suspects.”

The trio were remanded for a formal bail application, to be heard on December 19.

“Further arrests are imminent as investigations are continuing,” added Naidoo.

TimesLIVE
https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... 00m-fraud/

[Lisbeth]

Newsletter

iSimangaliso’s reaction to the arrest of its officials

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority (iSimangaliso) has learned with shock of the arrest of two of its officials on allegations of corruption and extortion, as per the charge sheet. iSimangaliso has managed to source information from the lawyers for the accused, who have confirmed that the case number in respect of the above allegation is DCA381/21.

It is imperative that iSimangaliso corrects distorted facts erroneously published, and currently circulating on the media platforms.

We wish to clarify the following issues:

• According to the charge sheet, the accused is charged for an estimated amount of R600 000 – not R100 million, as was alleged in the media reports.

• There are two charges levelled against the accused, which can be summed up as follows: corruption (accepting a benefit), and extortion (through inducing fear or subjecting a service provider to become fearful).

• iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is not a municipality but a public entity –reporting to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

• Only two of the three mentioned officials are the employees of iSimangaliso, Mr Caiphus Khumalo and Ms Nonku Lafuleni-Zungu.
  The earlier information erroneously published in media reports was not verified with iSimangaliso before publishing.

iSimangaliso is a proponent of clean governance, and is against any form of corruption. It has a code of conduct, which will be implemented accordingly.

We have full faith in our justice system, and further subscribe to the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

iSimangaliso shall keep the public informed of all developments regarding its operations following these arrests.

For more information on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, visit our website at isimangaliso.com. Media enquiries should be directed to Bheki Manzini 060 533 2082 or bhekimanzini@isimangaliso.com.

[Richprins]

Ja so what? Clean up your act!