Civil Servant Facing Corruption Charges
Obakeng Eden Mongale (52), former Head of Department of Public Works in the North West, appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 02 November 2023, for alleged corruption of contravention of section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999.
The accused handed himself over to the police. It is alleged that in 2008, Mongale awarded IIima Projects and Tsoga Developers a tender to the tune of over R470 million to construct Brits hospital. Investigations by Serious Commercial Crime Investigation revealed that the two companies were awarded the tender without meeting requirements.
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In 2010, Ilima Projects was allegedly placed under provisional liquidation, which resulted in the termination of the contract. A new company was appointed to complete the construction of the hospital. The department had spent over R57 million when the contract was terminated.
Obakeng Eden Mongale
The new contractor had to carry out two major remedial work amounting to more than R4 million, which resulted in the extension of time and cost, which constituted wasteful expenditure.
The accused was released on R50 000, 00 bail and his case was postponed to 31 January 2024 for further investigation. He has been ordered to hand in his passport to the investigating officer and not to communicate with state witnesses. Court further ordered the accused not to leave the province without informing the investigating officer.
Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the North West, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari lauded both the investigation and prosecution team for working in collaboration towards ensuring that the accused is brought before court to answer to the corruption allegations against him.