Three officials at the market and their suppliers defrauded the City by misrepresenting the quantities of goods received via the market’s procurement processes, according to the head of Johannesburg’s anti-corruption unit, General Shadrack Sibiya.
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“In one case, the cost of [the] misrepresentation amounted to R1,86 million. In another case, the Joburg Market overpaid a supplier by R5 million. The supplier in question had business interests with employees of the market,” said mayoral spokesperson Tony Taverna-Turisan.
The three implicated officials were suspended and a case of fraud, theft and corruption against all implicated officials and suppliers was opened with the Hawks.
These revelations would not affect the almost 5 000 farmers served by the Joburg Market, according to acting CEO, Joe Mazibuko. In a statement, he said that the irregularities would not interfere with the daily operations of the market nor their ability to render quality service to their clients.
Derek Donkin, CEO of South African Subtropical Growers’ Association, told Farmer’s Weekly that the association commended the City of Johannesburg on its efforts to root out corruption at the Joburg Market.
“Corruption in any shape or form is detrimental to our society. The less we have of it, the better for us all.”
