Amatola Water Tender Fraud: Businesswoman Arrested For R215,000 Scam
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has arrested a 42-year-old businesswoman, Babalwa Afrika Ngwenze, following an intensive probe into tender fraud involving Amatola Water.
Ngwenze, the sole director of Liphundi Project (Pty) Ltd, is accused of fraud and submitting forged documentation in a bid to fraudulently secure a water tanker supply tender in 2020.
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According to reports, the tender was advertised by the Development Section of Amatola Water to provide water tankers to communities in the Chris Hani District.
One of the key requirements was the possession of a licensed water tanker, verified through an official vehicle registration certificate.
Fake Vehicle Certificate Used To Secure Contract
On 27 August 2020, Ngwenze allegedly submitted a fabricated vehicle registration certificate, claiming it was issued by the Department of Transport.
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The false submission allegedly enabled her company to win the tender and render water delivery services in the designated areas.
Subsequently, Ngwenze’s company invoiced Amatola Water for services rendered and received payments.
However, during a routine audit, the fraud, discrepancies were detected and the matter was escalated to the Specialised Investigation Unit (SIU), which later handed it over to the Hawks.
The investigation uncovered that Amatola Water suffered a financial loss exceeding R215,000 due to the misrepresentation.
Charges
Ngwenze was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in East London on 24 April 2025.
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She appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on the same day, facing charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering.
She was released on R1,000 bail.
The case has been postponed to 2 June 2025, when it will be transferred to the East London Regional Court for further proceedings.
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