Six people, including high-ranking officials from the office of the Eastern Cape Premier, were granted bail in the Zwelitsha magistrates on Tuesday.
Former Eastern Cape Director-General in the Office of the Premier and Eastern Cape Treasury Head of Department, Marrion Mbina-Mthembu (57), former Finance Specialist Myirhakazi Ntshingila (56), businesspersons Athi Magwentshu (45), Ntabellang Nkoane (41), Koleka Mtembu (56), Deon Pietersen (71), Nelson Lephoko (67) and Sizakele Netshilaphala (55) was in court on charges of alleged tender fraud amounting to R20 million rand.
Their arrest relates to the issuing of a tender for the provision of temporary classrooms and furniture in the Gqeberha and Kariega areas in 2016.
The court granted Mbina-Mthembu, Ntshingila, Magwentshu, Pietersen and Lephoko R10 000 bail each, while Netshilaphala was released on R6 000, with Nkoane and Mthembu getting R5 000 bail, respectively. Among the conditions attached to their release on bail is that they do not exit the country without permission from the investigating officer.
