Andile Mngxitama, who was in the company of his supporters, visited the Hillbrow police station, where he opened a case with the police. Picture: Supplied.
Johannesburg - The Department of Public Works (DPW) has confirmed knowledge of SKG Africa PTY, which is a property development and rental company said to be contracted by the department to lease various office spaces to the department across the country.
However, the department would not be drawn into commenting on the accusations that SKG Africa enjoys a monopoly of contracts with the department and accusations of the company having been paid for services not rendered.
This comes after the leader of Black First Land First (BLF), Andile Mngxitama, opened a case of fraud and corruption against an Eastern Cape-based construction company, SKG Africa (PTY). Mngxitama, who was in the company of his supporters, visited the Hillbrow Police Station last Wednesday, where he opened a case with the police.
The former EFF member said he had proof that SKG has been defrauding the Department of Public Works through dodgy contracts and claiming for services it had not provided.
"I have proof of a contract in which this company has been claiming money from the department of public works without having provided any services. We are here at the Hillbrow police station, and we have successfully opened a case with the police to ensure that fraud and corruption, especially by white monopoly capital (WMC), who are benefiting while the faces of corruption continue to be black companies and black businessmen. The case in point is Markus Jooste, who is the most corrupt white man in South Africa, but he is not known, and his face is not put in the media as the face of corruption, while the likes of Matshela Koko, Brian Molefe, and many black South Africans are made the face of corruption," Mngxitama said.
Speaking to The Star, spokesperson for the department, Thamsanqa Mchunu, said SKG Africa leases office space to the department but denied that the company had undue influence or had entered into irregular contracts with DPW.
"Yes, the department does have a contract with SKG Africa PTY LTD for lease contracts for office accommodation. And all of the contracts are legitimate contracts," Mchunu said.
Mngxitama said this was the start of a campaign called "Stop White Monopoly Capital Corruption" as a way to fight corruption and expose corrupt white businesses.
"The BLF launches this campaign by opening a criminal case against SKG Africa, which is a company based in East London, and has captured the Department of Public Works, where it provides the bulk of contracts nationally. The department is responsible for hiring office space for government departments, with SKG Africa having acquired the tenders for government office space."
He said the monopoly enjoyed by SKG with the department has made it impossible for other contracts to enter the space and created a haven for corruption and fraud in the department.
"The monopolising of business with the state has led to undue influence of SKG on the department and has created opportunities for corruption by charging for services it does not provide. SKG entered into an agreement with the department to provide services for which the department is charged monthly, but no such services are provided after it signed this contract in 2017," he said.
SKG, which is based in East London, is a company that deals with property development information technology, property investment, and property management services. Its telephones were answered by a pre-recorded message indicating that the company has closed down for the festive season and will be reopening in the first week of January 2023.
Emails sent to the company were also not returned at the time of publishing.
The Star
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