SIU victory: Court voids Mpumalanga Health Dept contracts held by Tark Group

The Special Tribunal has officially set aside two allegedly unlawful tenders awarded by the Mpumalanga Health Department during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contracts, which carried a combined value of more than R14 million, were intended for the procurement of 60,000 surgical masks and 150,000 protective medical jumpsuits.

"The SIU investigations revealed that Tark Group (Pty) Ltd, formerly Tuwo Rhodesia, benefited unlawfully from contracts worth over R14 million. Tark Group is co-owned by Katleho O'Hara Mokonyane and Bonelela Mgudlwa. The Tribunal also held the co-owners personally liable for unlawful gains. The Tribunal ordered the disgorgement of profits and declared the contracts void," said SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho.

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The investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the awarding process, leading the SIU to pursue litigation to invalidate the agreements and recover state funds.

Makgotho welcomed the judgment, noting that it reinforces the unit's mandate to police state spending.

"This judgment is a critical outcome of the SIU’s relentless efforts to recover public funds lost during the COVID-19 national state of disaster," Makgotho said. "It sends a clear message that suppliers who fail to meet essential legal requirements have no entitlement to profit from the state, and the SIU will use its litigation powers to the fullest to ensure such funds are returned."

The ruling marks another milestone in the ongoing efforts to address corruption and procurement irregularities related to pandemic-era spending.