KLERKSDORP – A corruption case involving an official of the North West Department of Agriculture, Seabelo Lebitse (43), is set to continue in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Klerksdorp on 7 May.
Lt Col Tinyiko Mathebula, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the matter has been transferred from the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court after completion of the proceedings in the lower court, including bail application.
He said Lebitse’s initial appearance in the lower court on 31 March followed his arrest by the Klerksdorp Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit regarding allegations of soliciting bribes from a service provider. Mathebula said the court released the official the same day on bail set at R5 000 with the condition to appear at all scheduled court hearings. He said Lebitse faces three counts of corruption.
Mathebula said an investigation revealed that Lebitse allegedly received approximately R13 000 in gratification from the service provider who had submitted tender documents to the department in October 2020. The tender was for tunnel construction and fishpond installation at R521 573,00. Mathebula said findings revealed the accused allegedly approached a tender-winning service provider, promising to help facilitate the tender award in exchange for financial compensation.
“Lebitse allegedly told a service provider he would assist with a tender award on the condition that the provider ‘take care of him.’ Investigators found that the service provider paid Lebitse R10 000 for the purchase of tyres for his vehicle, as well as separate payments of R2 000 and R1 000 on different occasions. The service provider subsequently secured a service level agreement with the department for tunnel construction and fishpond installation,” said Mathebula.
