Khanyisile Nkosi

Khanyisile Nkosi

SEVERAL senior officials in the national prosecuting authority might face prosecution for allegedly influencing a decision to award amultimillion-rand contract to an unqualified company.

This was apparently done to spite a company whose directors were believed to be close to President Jacob Zuma.

Sowetan has learnt that in 2006 the NPA approved a tender worth more than R70million to Intense Protection for security at all its offices nationally.

This was after the NPA had told Reshebile Aviation & Protection Services on May 2 2006 that the tender had been cancelled.

Intense Protection, owned by Durban businessman Dalo Nala, won the contract, though the company does not specialise in security services. Nala declined to comment.

A source said internal NPA probes had revealed that some officials in the evaluation committee had submitted affidavits saying Reshebile Aviation Services should be sidelined as its directors were close to Zuma.

NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali confirmed that police were investigating a case of corruption and tender rigging against some NPA officials.

He declined to confirm the number, but Sowetan can reveal that two officials had been questioned.

Tlali said information about officials receiving bribes from Intense Protection had been received from several sources.

"The case has since been handed over for criminal investigation," Tlali said.

Reshebile director Khanyisani Mazibuko said that when they realised the tender had not been cancelled their lawyers asked for information from the NPA.

"We are still waiting for information," he said.