[Image: Picpedia]
Turns out, not even school dresses for disadvantaged kids are safe from dodgy politics.
Former Cederberg deputy mayor Benjamin Zass has been nailed for fraud in the Bellville commercial crimes court, all over a measly R20,000 tender meant to kit out needy pupils.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority, said advocate Andre Botman landed the punch, successfully prosecuting Zass for fraud and breaking the Municipal Finance Management Act, thanks to a complaint from one seriously unimpressed service provider, Louisa Swartz, Businesslive reports.
Swartz, who owned RJ Swartz — a company listed on the Cederberg municipality’s supplier database — had tendered for the municipality’s heartwarming-sounding “Back to School Project.” She quoted R20,000 to supply dresses for 100 kids who actually needed them. Sweet, right? Well, not for long.
“On January 23 2018, the municipality deposited R20,000 into her business bank account. Shortly after she received a call from the accused informing her the municipality had decided to manage the project, and she was required to return the funds deposited into her business bank account minus R500 for administration costs,” Ntabazalila said.
You’d think the municipality would just send bank details, right? Nope. According to Ntabazalila: “She requested the municipality’s banking details to deposit the money, but the accused asked her to meet him outside a local grocery store and bring the money in cash.”
Cash. In a paper bag. Outside a grocery store. Not suspicious at all.
Swartz, clearly more sensible than Zass gave her credit for, wasn’t keen to stroll around with R19,500 stuffed into a paper bag, so she brought her son along for backup.
In court, Zass tried to wriggle out of it, claiming he was just following orders from municipal manager Henry Slimmert, who immediately threw him under the bus. Slimmert not only denied giving the instruction but pointed out the department had signed off an invoice confirming receipt of goods… that didn’t exist.
Slimmert hammered it home that council members, let alone deputy mayors, had no business interfering with suppliers. The municipality’s CFO and accountant also lined up to say the same thing: Zass had zero right poking his nose into procurement.
Botman, clearly having a field day, reminded the court that municipal supply chain management isn’t a free-for-all. It’s governed by strict internal rules, and no, you can’t just phone people and demand paper bags of cash.
He called up seven witnesses to seal the deal: Swartz, her son Sgt Rodney Swartz, Zass’s ex-driver Collin Davids, Slimmert, accountant Johan Francois van der Westhuizen, CFO Michael Adrian Smit, and investigating officer Sgt Mokwena.
The evidence was clear as day: Zass personally called Swartz, told her he’d “oversee the project” from his office, and hijacked the operation for himself, leaving the actual needy kids high and dry.
The court didn’t buy his sob story for a second. Guilty as charged.
Zass will find out exactly how expensive that R20,000 hustle is when he’s sentenced on May 29.
[Source: Businesslive]
