ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe
By Thabo Mosia
The fraud and corruption case against former ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and his six co-accused has been postponed to 17 June 2025 following changes to the legal representatives of some of the accused. The brief court appearance took place on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. The accused, including Mabe and his wife Mmatlheko, face charges tied to an allegedly irregular R27 million tender awarded to Mabe’s company, Enviro Mobi, in 2017. The state claims the tender, meant to supply over 200 three-wheeler waste picker vehicles, was mismanaged, leading to significant financial losses. All seven accused remain out on R30,000 bail each as the case drags on.
Legal Team Changes Cause Delay
The postponement came after several accused, including Mabe, shook up their legal teams. Mabe, a former ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, terminated his previous lawyer’s mandate and brought in well-known attorney Zola Majavu. Majavu, who recently secured a victory for former ANC comrade Zizi Kodwa in a separate corruption case, now represents Mabe, his wife, and two co-accused companies. In court, Majavu formally requested further particulars for Mabe, saying, “I’m actually giving notice that I’m doing it right now so that the court can make an inscription that that was done today for purposes of case management.”
Another accused, known as “accused number two,” also sacked their attorney. However, the former lawyer’s absence from court delayed the official withdrawal process, prompting the magistrate to grant more time. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed, “Accused number two has also terminated the mandate of her attorney, but unfortunately, that attorney was not in court to withdraw, as per court procedure. So, she has been granted the opportunity.”
The state said it was ready to move forward but had to pause due to these changes and requests for additional disclosures. Mjonondwane added, “We will be studying the applications from accused number one and five for further particulars. Accused number three also applied for further disclosure.” This administrative hiccup has pushed the case to mid-2025, giving the defence teams months to prepare.
Details of the R27 Million Tender Scandal
At the heart of the case is a R27 million tender awarded to Enviro Mobi in 2017 by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside the Ekurhuleni Metro. The deal was meant to supply over 200 three-wheeler vehicles—locally called “tuk-tuks” or “karikis”—to support waste pickers in Ekurhuleni. However, the state alleges the tender was irregularly awarded, and Enviro Mobi failed to deliver.
According to investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), only four of the 196 promised vehicles were handed over, many of which were faulty with no spare parts provided. The SIU also found that Enviro Mobi misrepresented itself during the bidding process. Mabe, an MP at the time, did not disclose his connection to the company, breaching parliamentary rules that bar MPs from doing business with the state. Worse still, despite rules against upfront payments, Enviro Mobi received over R25 million in advance, authorised by co-accused officials in the department.
The fallout? A loss of public funds exceeding R25 million, fraudulent tender awards, and suspicious financial flows benefiting individuals and entities linked to Mabe.
SIU Freezes Mabe’s Luxury Assets
In a major blow to Mabe, the SIU secured a preservation order from the Special Tribunal against his assets. This includes a lavish home in the upscale Steyn City estate and a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. The order stops Mabe from selling, leasing, or transferring these assets until the case is resolved. The SIU has also launched a review application to cancel the tender and claw back the millions paid to Enviro Mobi. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said, “The SIU findings revealed mismanagement of public funds, resulting in losses exceeding R25 million, fraudulent activities linked to tender awards and settlements, and unlawful financial flows benefiting individuals and entities.”
Mabe Denies Charges, Steps Aside from ANC
Mabe has strongly denied the allegations, insisting he and his company fulfilled their obligations. During his bail application in October 2024, he said, “I did nothing wrong. I deny the allegations levelled against me in the strongest possible sense.” He claimed the vehicles were delivered and showcased at a public event in Thembisa, attended by former Gauteng Premier David Makhura. Outside court on Tuesday, Mabe stuck to his guns, telling reporters, “I’ve got my lawyer. Let’s allow lawyers to do what they do best.”
After his arrest, Mabe stepped aside from his ANC NEC role under the party’s step-aside rule, which forces members charged with corruption to relinquish positions. His move reflects the ANC’s efforts to clean up its image amid growing criticism over graft scandals.
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