SIU Raids JB Marks Municipality In North West

ERNEST MABASA|November 7, 2024

***RAIDED: The SIU has seized documents and computer hard drives from the JB Marks Local Municipality in North West concerning alleged tender irregularities.***

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), assisted by the Hawks and the South African Police Service, raided the JB Marks Local Municipality in the North West Province on Thursday in connection with alleged tender irregularities and fraud.

The SIU is investigating allegations of serious maladministration regarding the construction of a flood line canal next to the N12 provincial road and Ikageng extension 11.

The raid comes after the Potchefstroom Magistrate Court granted the unit a warrant to search the municipality’s premises, formerly known as Tlokwe Local Municipality on Wednesday.

During the search, the SIU collected a range of documentation and devices essential for auditing and compliance concerning successful tenders awarded from 1 January 2015 to 04 October 2024.

Pictures obtained by African Times showed municipal employees gathered in the parking lot, looking concerned and shocked. Some could be seen folding their hands in disbelief as SIU staff loaded dozens of boxes into several cars.

“SIU is closing JB Marks. Search-warrants for computers, documents as well as warrants for arrest of the Municipal Manager. Roads closed by traffic [officers]. The public asked to leave the premises,” said an eye witness.

The SIU confirmed in a media statement that the seized materials included company registration documents, payment records (invoices, purchase orders, remittance advice), electronic devices, including laptops, mobile devices, and external storage media used by relevant officials and employees and any associated electronic data, including emails and cloud storage information linked to specific personnel.

CRACKING WHIP: SIU boss Adv Andy Mothibi’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says they have been forced to seek a search and seizure warrant after JB Marks Municipality officials failed to hand over requested documents.

Kaizer Kganyago, the SIU Spokesperson, said in the statement that the municipality has not been cooperating with them, resulting in the unit heading to court for the warrant to search.

“The search and seizure operation is the SIU’s last resort to access documents needed for the investigation and obtain the necessary documentation for its investigation. Since the proclamation was published on 04 October 2024, the SIU has made multiple attempts to contact the municipality in an effort to access the required documents voluntarily; however, these attempts have gone unanswered.

“This lack of cooperation prompted the SIU to seek the court’s assistance in securing a warrant to search and seize pertinent documents and electronic equipment,” Kganyago concluded.