News24 | Treasury probes former contracts boss after Madlanga tender leak evidence

National Treasury has launched a forensic probe into a former employee following evidence about the sharing of inside information at the Madlanga Commission.

Although Treasury did not name the former employee, recent evidence at the commission implicated former procurement official Lieutenant-General Molefe Fani.

Fani was suspended in May from his post as the SA Police Service divisional commissioner for supply chain management. His suspension was due to alleged misconduct linked to irregular procurement during his time at Treasury.

Before joining the police in 2022, Fani worked at Treasury for four years, where he was responsible for transversal contracts. He later rose to acting chief procurement officer.

Transversal contracts are centralised government contracts used for goods or services that many public bodies need.

“In light of the seriousness of the allegations presented, the National Treasury has initiated an investigation into the awarding of transversal contracts concluded during this period,” said Treasury in a statement.

“The investigation will test the veracity of the allegations made and, importantly, determine any measures needed to further strengthen the procurement and award processes within the transversal contracting system.”

Treasury said its findings would be made public in the interest of public trust and good governance.

Fani’s name has cropped up at various points during the Madlanga Commission.

As News24 reported, evidence leader, Advocate Adila Hassim SC, said Crime Intelligence boss Feroz Khan was able to access confidential tender information because of his alleged connection to Fani.

READ | Pimped out cars and a R54m auto parts contract: Inside Feroz Khan’s alleged tender-rigging

Hassim told the commission on Friday that Fani was the “guy” Khan told colleagues – cigarette tycoon Mohammed Sayed and Ismail Vally, the owner of Kaizen Motor Spares – he would talk to about lucrative Treasury tenders.

According to Hassim, there was a “clear link” between Khan and Fani.

Fani’s suspension followed Special Investigating Unit findings in connection with a personal protective equipment contract that was declared irregular due to non-compliance with supply chain management prescripts, conflict of interest, and wasteful expenditure.

According to Fani’s statement to the ad hoc committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in November last year, before joining Treasury, he worked at Eskom, the Central Energy Fund and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

He said that he had “n