The Petrusville Magistrates’ Court has postponed a money laundering and corruption case involving a Northern Cape businessman, Rhulani Tshuketana, and Emthanjeni Municipality employee, Lusapho Williams, to April next year.
The pair were arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday in connection with allegations of irregularities linked to a R1 million tender awarded to Ribilwa Trading Enterprise in March 2020. The tender, intended to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Emthanjeni Municipality, was allegedly granted without following proper Supply Chain Management procedures.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the company secured multiple tenders within a short period.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Nomthandazo Mnisi, detailed the allegations, stating, “It was further discovered that a youth coordinator who is an employee of Emthanjeni Municipality, Lusapho Donald Williams, has been receiving gratification from the director of Ribilwa Trading Enterprise, Mr Tshuketana. Mr Williams did not disclose any business interests outside his scope of employment and was not authorised to receive any remuneration outside his scope of employment.”
Mnisi added that payments received by Ribilwa Trading Enterprise from Renosterberg Municipality totaled R1,938,455.00, while Mr. Williams allegedly received R178,900.00 from Tshuketana. The case will resume in April 2025.
The Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime Court earlier in the year convicted and sentenced Tshuketana and Ribilwa Trading Enterprise (Pty) Ltd for contravening the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011.
The court ordered Ribilwa Trading Enterprise to pay a fine of R30,000 by 31 March 2025 at the Kimberley Clerk of the Court.
Tshuketana was fined R50 000, with an initial payment of R1 500 due by 7 November 2024. He is required to pay R1 500 monthly by the 7th of each consecutive month until the fine is settled.
The combined penalties for the entity and its owner amount to R80 000.
Northern Cape PPE fraud accused bail bid
