Latest news with #DefensorSecurityServices
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Defensor Security Company and two directors found guilty of R384m fraud
The Northern Cape high court on Monday found two directors of Defensor Security Services guilty of fraud. The court also found Claudius Gerald Peterson, Gert Renier van Rooyen and their company guilty of contravening the Public Finance Management Act and the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA). Peterson, Van Rooyen and Defensor were charged together with Steven Jonkers, the former head of the department of health in the Northern Cape, in 2020. Jonkers was acquitted of all charges. Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Tebogo Thebe said Jonkers, now deputy director-general in another provincial department, allegedly irregularly awarded a tender to Defensor Electronic Security Systems for security services to the department between August and October 2017. The tender's value was initially R224m but later escalated to more than R384m. 'The directors submitted fraudulent documents to gain an unfair advantage over others to be awarded the tender,' Thebe said. The case was reported to the Hawks' serious corruption investigators in December 2017 and arrests were made in 2020. Northern Cape Hawks head Maj-Gen Stephen Mabuela welcome the convictions. 'The wheels of justice may have turned slowly in this matter, but this conviction offers us hope. My appreciation goes to both the investigating and prosecutorial teams for their hard work,' Mabuela said.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Big blow for rampant corruption
It is rare for our law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to receive commendation for their work, as the daily crime statistics often subject them to criticism. However, when they perform exceptionally, they deserve recognition. This week, the Kimberley Division of the High Court delivered a significant blow to the rampant corruption in our nation. On Monday, August 11, two directors of Defensor Security Services, Claudius Gerald Peterson and Gert Renier van Rooyen, along with the entity itself, were found guilty of fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 and the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA) 56 of 2001. The group, which initially surrendered in October 2021, included Steven Jonkers, the former HOD of the Department of Health, who was acquitted of all charges. The allegations stated that the former HOD, now a Deputy Director General in another provincial department, irregularly awarded a tender to Defensor Electronic Security Systems for security services. The company directors submitted fraudulent documents to gain an unfair advantage, leading to them being awarded the tender as the highest bidder between August and October 2017. The tender's initial value of R224 million later increased to over R384 million. As Major General Stephen Mabuela, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, noted, "The wheels of justice may have turned slowly in this matter, but this conviction offers us hope." We echo this sentiment. Corruption remains a significant challenge in South Africa, undermining democracy, public trust, and economic development at all levels of society. It is crucial to honour whistleblowers, such as Babita Deokaran, who have paid the ultimate price for reporting corruption within departments like the Gauteng Department of Health. While we still have a long way to go in eradicating corruption, the Kimberley verdict is an encouraging sign nonetheless.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Bib blow for rampant corruption
While we still have a long way to go in eradicating corruption, the Kimberley Division of the High Court verdict is an encouraging sign nonetheless. It is rare for our law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to receive commendation for their work, as the daily crime statistics often subject them to criticism. However, when they perform exceptionally, they deserve recognition. This week, the Kimberley Division of the High Court delivered a significant blow to the rampant corruption in our nation. On Monday, August 11, two directors of Defensor Security Services, Claudius Gerald Peterson and Gert Renier van Rooyen, along with the entity itself, were found guilty of fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 and the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA) 56 of 2001. The group, which initially surrendered in October 2021, included Steven Jonkers, the former HOD of the Department of Health, who was acquitted of all charges. The allegations stated that the former HOD, now a Deputy Director General in another provincial department, irregularly awarded a tender to Defensor Electronic Security Systems for security services. The company directors submitted fraudulent documents to gain an unfair advantage, leading to them being awarded the tender as the highest bidder between August and October 2017. The tender's initial value of R224 million later increased to over R384 million. As Major General Stephen Mabuela, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, noted, "The wheels of justice may have turned slowly in this matter, but this conviction offers us hope." We echo this sentiment. Corruption remains a significant challenge in South Africa, undermining democracy, public trust, and economic development at all levels of society. It is crucial to honour whistleblowers, such as Babita Deokaran, who have paid the ultimate price for reporting corruption within departments like the Gauteng Department of Health. While we still have a long way to go in eradicating corruption, the Kimberley verdict is an encouraging sign nonetheless.
