MEC's husband linked to R33m deal - report

Johannesburg - A company linked to KwaZulu-Natal local government MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube's husband has been awarded a R33m tender to install water pipes for a municipality, the Sunday Times reported.

Afriscan Construction was appointed the main contractor for the project in the uMkhanyakude district municipality. The company is allegedly linked to Dube-Ncube's husband, Sibusiso Ncube.

The municipality had previously given another of Ncube's companies, Sinosa Construction, a questionable multi-million rand contract to supply water pipes, according to the report.

The Mhlathuze Water Board's CEO Sibusiso Makhanya said the contract was "awarded fairly" to an experienced "big company".

Dube-Ncube's spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso, said the MEC launched an investigation into water affairs at uMkhanyakude last August.

Being investigated were alleged irregularities in the provision of water, alleged sabotage of water infrastructure, and water losses. Mabaso said the investigation was in its final stages.

Ncube on Friday provided documents to the newspaper showing he resigned as director of Afriscan on 29 November, three weeks before it was awarded the R33m contract.

Ncube said he had cut all ties with Afriscan, which won contracts totalling R135m over the past six years.

Sinosa was allegedly paid R69m for contracts the Auditor General found, in 2012, were awarded without competitive bidding processes having been followed.