Have the chickens come home to roost?
This may very well be the case with yet another SANDF member charged with graft.
A former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) general, Mendis Eddy Modlane (67) has been arrested and is facing fraud charges.
Mendis is charged with a company director Mugisha Charles Mwali (59), was granted R5 000 bail and the company Phomolo Enterprises (PTY)LTD, represented by Mugisha was released on warning.
In 2015, Mendis was employed as Brigadier General by SANDF in the Joint Operation Headquarters Division under the Directorate of Joint Operations Support which deals with deployment of soldiers to other countries and in South Africa.
The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court heard that on, 10 November 2015, the division requested the procurement of 3000 heat-resistant buffs and 3000 military goggles to prevent sicknesses caused by dust for various South African bases OP Cordite in Sudan at an estimated value of R2,2 million.
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“On 14 December 2015, it is alleged that Mendis defrauded SANDF by writing a request to the Central Procurement Service Centre (CPSC) to deviate from the procurement processes and requested that Phomolo Enterprises (PTY)LTD be appointed to supply and deliver the said items for three rotations starting on 16 January 2016.
“After the submission was approved by CPSC, Phomolo Enterprises (PTY)LTD was invited to bid. Phomolo Enterprises (PTY)LTD then submitted bid documents with a total price of more than R2,1million, R940 less than the estimated value of R2,2million and was later appointed for the services on 15 February 2016.”
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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says more accused persons are expected to be added to the matter.
“The two were arrested on 17 April 2024, after they handed themselves over to the police. In court, using an affidavit, the two denied committing the offences and asked to be released on bail. Then state did not oppose their release on bail because they were not a flight risk and had no previous convictions nor pending cases,” says the NPA’s Lumka Mahanjana.
Mendis was released on R10 000 bail.
After bail was granted, the matter was postponed to 17 July 2024 for further investigations.
