Overview
- Special Tribunal Judge Chantel Fortuin set aside the R2.5 million June 2020 contract for 72 chemical toilets and declared the spending irregular.
- KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka was ordered to institute disciplinary action against 16 officials implicated in the unlawful award.
- Findings included pre‑tender contact, more than 100% mark‑ups, false declarations, backdated documents and undeclared conflicts by director Pat Lebenya.
- Huluwethu (Pty) Ltd must file audited accounts and repay profits, with interest and legal costs, after claims for services not rendered and unlawful extensions were identified.
- Teacher bodies such as NAPTOSA welcomed the ruling and called for recovery of funds, while debarment under the new Procurement Act remains unavailable until the law takes effect.