Gangster State

coincidentally, also played a key role in the transferral of Shantan
Reddy’s R 60 -million Free State IT contract to the national Department
of Energy, as discussed in Chapter 15. He left the Department of
Human Settlements in October 2015 to become the Department of
Energy’s director general. Zulu said he was sure he had handled the
transferral of the asbestos audit contract in a lawful manner. ‘In all
probabilities, I would have handled the matter within the legal
framework provided in law in handling a matter of this nature. I have
always considered legal compliance on all matters during my period at
the said department, as part of my sole responsibility as the accounting
officer at the time.’
With their path now all but cleared, Sodi and Mpambani must have
felt quite certain that they would secure the contract, for on 10 August
2014 they finally put pen to paper to formalise the joint-venture
agreement between Blackhead and Diamond Hill. ‘The parties to this
agreement will tender for the asbestos-related works jointly,’ read the
signed document.^18 It was curious wording to include in the agreement,
seeing as there would never be a tender process thanks to Treasury
Regulation 16 A 6. 6.
On 1 October 2014 , Sodi and Mpambani received formal word of
their appointment from Mokhesi. ‘After due consultation with the
Department of Human Settlements – Gauteng Province and concurrent
approval by Free State Provincial Treasury it is with great pleasure to
announce that you have been duly appointed ... as a Professional
Resource Team to assist the Free State Department of Human
Settlements in eradicating asbestos in the Free State province,’ read the
HOD’s letter. ‘The department wishes to advise that your company has
been exclusively appointed for the audit and assessment of asbestos,