Hawks investigators are back in Nelson Mandela Bay for the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) investigation, interviewing officials in the city treasury department as well as those dealing with tenders.
The probe is due to allegations of fraud, corruption and the laundering of money meant for the city’s bus system involving municipal officials, politicians and businesses.
Close to R3bn has been ploughed into the IPTS over the past decade.
The interviews are being led by Hawks investigator Captain Henk Fourie.
He is the same investigator who wrote in an affidavit last year about how R664,000 was allegedly paid to mayor Mongameli Bobani by a company accused of siphoning money meant for the beleaguered bus system.
The company, Heerkos Projects, run by businessman Fareed Fakir, benefited from multimillion-rand contracts from the municipality, most of which did not go through the proper tender processes.
Fakir and Bobani have previously denied the claims.
It is understood the Hawks requested the contact details of at least seven current and former officials on Wednesday.
A municipal official, who declined to be named, said a number of meetings had been set up by the Hawks after approaching the municipality.
“There were people they wanted to interview but some have since left,” the official said.
“They are getting to the nuts and bolts of what happened all those years ago.
“They are interviewing people who made the payments to understand the process, and also supply chain officials.”
He said four senior officials at the budget and treasury directorate were also interviewed.
“The investigators are keeping all this close to their chests.
“But it appears the investigation is being finalised.”
A second official said the investigation was looking into how some staff would exhort money from business owners who did work for the municipality before ensuring payments were made.“I don’t know if this is linked to the IPTS but it appears these are the questions being asked as well,” he said.Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said the municipality would not comment on the investigation.“Investigations are sensitive matters that need to be treated as such,” he said.“Discussing them [through] media platforms has the potential of compromising the whole process.”He said the municipality would address the matter at an appropriate time, through either a media statement or a briefing.Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said there were ongoing investigations.“However, we are not at liberty to divulge details,” he said.