Rakgare warns corrupt councilors

When allegations of corruption ignited a firestorm in the Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub-council, area Member of Parliament Tumiso Rakgare summoned all his councilors and cautioned them against brown envelopes.

This seemed to have fallen into deaf ears as it has emerged that the education department in the sub district is riddled with corruption regarding the awarding of the tender for the supply of the cleaning chemicals.

Rakgare who is also Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development confirmed that he cautioned his councilors about being involved in corrupt practices. “Yes I warned them and told them that and that I will report to the law enforcement agencies if any suspected corrupt issues are reported to me and have already done that,” he said.

The Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) is said to be investigating the case of oversupply of cleaning materials at Mogoditshane sub district council and some councilors and senior council officials are alleged to be implicated.

Information gathered by this publication has revealed that early this year, the Mogoditshane sub district issued a tender notice for the cleaning materials and equipment for the schools and was awarded to five companies. Through the instruction of the office of the Senior Assistant Council Secretary, the education department was instructed to procure more cleaning materials from a certain company. “They were informed that council has sourced P1 million to procure more cleaning materials but the Treasury advised against the move but were told it is an instruction not a request,” revealed the source.

The procurement of the cleaning materials led to overs supply in schools and some of the materials reaching their expiry dates. “We raised the issue with education department that they could have consulted on our needs rather than over supplying us with cleaning chemicals,” one school head raised a concern.

Chairperson for the Mogoditshane/Thamaga sub district Duke Mafoko said that he is not aware of the issue of oversupply of cleaning materials in schools. “I will enquire about the issue because I have not been briefed about the issue,” he responded.

A questionnaire sent to the council three weeks ago was not responded to.