Johannesburg - A corruption probe into dodgy tenders worth R360m at Pikitup has ground to a halt after the state-owned waste utility mysteriously pulled the plug on the investigations.
The Sunday Times reported that Pikitup paid audit firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young) R6m to investigate tender rigging. They stopped the probe however in October 2012 – before EY could prepare their final report.
However, an explosive draft report obtained during a joint investigation with Corruption Watch allegedly implicates senior officials at Pikitup including Zami Nkosi, the utility’s former MD, who now heads the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, as well as Pikitup’s entire bid adjudication committee.
Pikitup claims the report was handed to the Hawks for further investigation.
Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko disputed this but said investigations were underway while they waited for the report.
The EY investigation was launched into 11 dodgy contracts awarded in 2010 and 2011 after Pikitup workers went on strike to demand a probe into corruption allegations.
Nkosi and the board resigned during the strike.
The Sunday Times reported that Pikitup paid audit firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young) R6m to investigate tender rigging. They stopped the probe however in October 2012 – before EY could prepare their final report.
However, an explosive draft report obtained during a joint investigation with Corruption Watch allegedly implicates senior officials at Pikitup including Zami Nkosi, the utility’s former MD, who now heads the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, as well as Pikitup’s entire bid adjudication committee.
Pikitup claims the report was handed to the Hawks for further investigation.
Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko disputed this but said investigations were underway while they waited for the report.
The EY investigation was launched into 11 dodgy contracts awarded in 2010 and 2011 after Pikitup workers went on strike to demand a probe into corruption allegations.
Nkosi and the board resigned during the strike.