Three police generals, a brigadier and a service provider, arrested in connection with the irregular procurement of emergency blue lights valued at over R84 million, have been granted bail ranging from R 15 000 and R50 000 each.
The five appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court following their arrest by police watchdog – IPID – on Wednesday morning.
They face charges of fraud and corruption.
Among the arrested is former Gauteng police Commissioner Deliwe De Lange who retired from the police service last week.
Businessman Vimpie Manthatha is an agent for an American company. His company, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement supplies warning equipment to police.
He has supplied the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments. But it was his tender with the South African Police Services that landed him in hot water.
The charge sheet alleges that Instrumentation was not tax compliant and that two of his police co-accused, including the head of procurement, helped submit a falsified tax clearance certificate.
It’s alleged that the former Gauteng police commissioner, Deliwe De Lange, facilitated the placement of orders with Instrumentation, after they won the tender.
The charge sheet further alleges that Manthatha lied about having fitted police vehicles with blue lights. He was granted R50 000 bail.
Proceedings were somewhat delayed because one of the accused, Johannes Mokwena, was travelling from Cape Town.
Mokwena is the National Divisional Commissioner for Supply Chain management and was slapped with R20 000 bail.
The alleged irregular tender cost the state over R 84 million.
All five accused maintain their innocence and intend pleading not guilty to the charges.
De Lange retired from the police service last week. Her bail was set at R20 000.
The lower ranking head of procurement at national level is the sole breadwinner for his two children. He told the court that he takes home R20 000 a month, but that he would be able to raise bail with the help of family and friends. The court granted him R15 000, the lowest bail amount in the case.
All five accused were last night told to hand themselves over to IPID investigators. The state did not oppose bail.
The case was postponed for further investigation until March next year.
