The Special Tribunal has issued a provisional order freezing three properties and five vehicles associated with a contractor investigated over an unfinished KwaZulu-Natal library project.
The Special Investigating Unit said the order covers assets associated with Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise CC and its owner, Thabile Jacqueline Xaba. Two of the properties are in Pietermaritzburg and one is in Ruimsig, Gauteng.
The five vehicles listed by the SIU are a Ford Ranger, an Isuzu light commercial vehicle, a Bell backhoe loader, a Land Rover Evoque and a Peugeot 305.
The preservation order prevents the assets from being sold, leased, donated, transferred or otherwise dealt with in a way that could reduce their value while the tribunal process continues.
The matter concerns a contract awarded by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for a modular library in Ntunjambili, within the Maphumulo Local Municipality.
The department entered into a R3.42 million service-level agreement with the contractor in February 2020. Construction stopped after the national Covid-19 lockdown was announced. A further R641,541 was later approved for an extension and pandemic-related costs, taking the contract value to about R4.06 million.
The SIU said its investigation found procurement and contractual irregularities, departures from approved specifications and alleged over-claiming. It also said some invoices were allegedly submitted for goods or services that were not provided.
Those allegations have not yet been finally determined by the tribunal. The preservation order is provisional and does not amount to a criminal conviction.
Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise and Xaba are due to return to the Special Tribunal on 7 October 2026, when they may oppose the order being made final.
