Woman fined R120,000 over fraudulent Amatola Water tender

By Thapelo Molefe

A 48-year-old woman in the Eastern cape has been fined R120,000 after being convicted of fraud, forgery and uttering over a fraudulent tender application for water transportation services at Amatola.

Zodwa Kupiso appeared before the KuGompo Regional Court on Tuesday, where she was found guilty after the Hawks investigated documentation submitted in support of her company’s tender application.

The case originated from a referral by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) after allegedly fraudulent documents were submitted to Amatola Water.

The tender was for the provision of water transportation services to designated areas within the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM).

The Hawks said Kupiso submitted purported proof of vehicle ownership on behalf of her business as part of the tender application.

The company was subsequently awarded the tender and rendered the required services, after which Amatola Water paid it R217,391.30.

The documentation later came under scrutiny, leading to