By Thabo Monyela
POLOKF DX – The Bolobedu-born controversial tender tycoon Edwin Sodi’s lavish 50-year birthday celebration, might have triggered the highest office in Union Building to authorise the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to launch a probe into R295 million Tshwane Rooiwaal Water treatment tender.
On Sunday, September 23, the embattled businessman celebrated his 50th birthday at his multi-million Bryanston mansion and amongst the attendees were Kaizer Chiefs Football manager Bobby Motaung, ANC Gauteng provincial Secretary TK Nciza, and a few other media personalities.
A day after the lavish 50th birthday party at his listed R85-million Bryanston mansion, the SIU revealed that it had been authorised to launch an investigation into the botched Rooiwal wastewater treatment project, which was awarded to Sodi’s owned Blackhead Consulting and other two companies.
“President Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation R 138 of 202, authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption in the affairs of Tshwane metropolitan municipality and to recover any financial losses suffered by the state”, the unit said.
Sodi and co were awarded the R295- million tender by Tshwane metro to refurbish the Rooiwal wastewater plant, to ensure that parts of Tshwane in Hammanskraal have clean drinking water.
However, the project was left incomplete due to alleged corruption and mismanagement of funds, which recently led to the outbreak of cholera that killed at least 15 people in the areas of Hammanskraal.
According to the SIU, its scope of investigation will cover any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of the Tshwane metropolitan municipality, the applicable suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity.
The unit further said that it would investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the metro municipality.
The SIU’s probe into Sodi’s tender affairs adds to his legal woes, as is on trial in Bloemfontein’s high court after his company, Blackhead Consulting was involved in the alleged corruption R255-million tender for the audit of asbestos-roofed homes and removal of the roofs on Free State, during Ace Magashule’s tenure as the Premier.
