Parties welcome arrest of Toilet Scandal 10, urge asset seizure

While political parties and a workers’ union welcomed the arrest of the 10 people by the Hawks on Thursday, they demanded that the elite crime-fighting unit leave no stone unturned in bringing those implicated in the grand looting to book.

Samwu ADM deputy chair Victor Totolo told DispatchLIVE when the alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering was taking place, workers had kept quiet because “senior people were involved”.

“Surely it can’t only be 10 people. We expected more arrests and hopefully in the coming days there will be more.

“More people benefited from this. Just look at the amount — it tells a story.

“We have always been against corruption. We commend the law enforcement for their clinical work.

“We hope this case is expedited,” he said.

Welcoming the arrests, ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said they wanted a corruption-free society. 

“We are happy the long arm of the law is catching up with people accused of wrongdoing. We need this matter to be speedily prosecuted.”

DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga agreed.

“We now call on the authorities to act with all haste in taking the matter to trial and ensuring that justice prevails.

“The DA believes those who are guilty of corruption must be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in jail.

“It is high time those responsible for stealing money meant for the people of this province are put behind bars,” he said.

EFF provincial secretary Mlamli Makhetha said the Hawks should crack down on more people who might be implicated.

“They must not just arrest people — they must make sure there are successful prosecutions.

“If you steal from the poor that means you are a criminal who belongs in prison.

“They must not just prosecute them but also ensure their properties are taken so the money they [allegedly] stole can be recovered by the state,” he said.

ANC MPL Nomasikizi Konza, mayor at ADM at the time of the Siyenza toilet scandal, on Thursday refused to be drawn into commenting about the arrests, saying the current political leadership at the district municipality was “better placed to answer about that”.

“I don’t know who was arrested, or when and why. Hence I will need sometime to get information on the matter before I could comment,” she added.  

One suspect, Lulama Taleni, is now chief of staff in the office of finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko.

Mvoko confirmed being aware of Taleni's arrest. “It was brought to my attention by my media liaison officer, but we do not have many facts around the matter. We will attend to it, but first one needs to understand and see the gravity of this situation.

“I do not want my office to be associated with such a thing, but we will first look into it before we issue a statement,” said Mvoko.

In her report released in July, public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found no evidence of political pressure from mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe and social development minister Lindiwe Zulu in the tender. Their children, Buyambo Mantashe and Boitumelo Itholeng, were implicated in the scandal.

Mkhwebane referred those implicated to the Hawks and Asset Forfeiture for investigation, paving the way for Thursday morning’s arrests. — Additional reporting by Soyiso Maliti and Asanda Nini