KwaZulu-Natal Businessman Makhonzandile Lukhope and his daughter Naledi Lukhope were arrested by the Hawks and have appeared in court for PPE fraud of more than four million rand.
“The Lukhopes were arrested on charges of fraud, forgery and uttering to the value of R4 365 868.88 related to a PPE tender awarded by the Eastern Cape Department of Education,” said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Thursday.
“The pair was arrested on Wednesday 20 July 2022 and appeared before the Zwelitsha Magistrates Court.
“They were both subsequently released on bail of R4 000 and R2 000 each.”
The SIU said its investigation revealed that businessman Lukhope, through his company Amabongwe, allegedly committed fraud through a misrepresentation and with an intention to defraud the ECDoE.
“He unlawfully submitted a Contract of Lease, which had the effect of misrepresenting to the ECDoE,” the SIU said.
“He unlawfully submitted a Contract of Lease, which had the effect of misrepresenting to the ECDoE that Amabongwe was operational in the Eastern Cape Province and had a business in the Province.”
This led to the ECDoE to award a contract to Amabongwe in the amount of R1 904 316, said the SIU.
Lukhope also failed to disclose interest in Tsunami Civils, which belongs to his daughter, Naledi Lukhope.
Naledi, through her company Tsunami Civils, allegedly misrepresented and defrauded the ECDoE.
Allegations are that Naledi submitted a copy of a contract of lease to the ECDoE that falsely claimed that Tsunami Civils was operational in the Eastern Cape and had a business in the Province.
The SIU said the false infomation enabled Naledi’s company to be paid R2 461 552.88 to supply PPE.
All tenders awarded to the Lukhopes, whose businesses are based in KwaZulu-Natal, were restricted for businesses operating in the Eastern Cape.
The matter has been postponed to 19 August 2022, Regional Court 5 in East London.
The SIU said it “welcomes the arrests” of Makhonzandile Lukhope and his daughter, Naledi.
