Nkandla builder arrested for fraud

The woman who built President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead has been charged with corruption and 18 counts of fraud. Thandeka Nene, 42, is accused of exaggerating her experience as a builder to win government tenders to the value of R118 million. She is also accused of bribing a public works official to secure the work. The Umhlanga businesswoman was arrested by members of the Hawks Anti-Corruption Task Team last week and was released on bail of R30 000. Spokeswoman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Natasha Ramkissoon-Kara confirmed the arrest. “We can confirm Nene was arrested and charged with fraud and corruption. She appeared in the Durban Commercial Crime Court before Judge Nalini Govender. She was granted bail and the case was remanded to December 12.” Nene’s charges relate to work done by her companies Bonelena Construction Enterprise and Project CC and Ntshantsha Construction CC for the building of schools and a hospital. After a four-month investigation by the Special Investigating Unit it emerged there were irregularities in the tender procurement process. The current charges make no mention of the upgrade to Zuma’s home in Nkandla. Nene’s company secured R90 million for the “security upgrades” at the president’s home. Nene’s husband Sikhumbuzo Eric Nene, 43, her sister Cynthia Cyndi Mahlalempini, 34, and brother-in-law Jordan Mlamuli Ngubane were also arrested last week because they were listed as directors of Ntshantsha Construction. They were each released on R5 000 bail. Nene told Independent Media her legal team was looking into the findings of the investigation. She said businesspeople often faced challenges. “This is a testimony to other entrepreneurs like me out there that business is not for the faint-hearted, but if you have God on your side then all is well. God has been nothing but good to me through the many challenges that I faced. He kept me and still continues to keep me going.” When asked whether she believed the investigation had anything to do with her involvement in Nkandla, she said she did not want to comment on that. A high-ranking police source believed the investigation into Nene’s credentials was sparked by her involvement with Nkandla and a fraud charge against her in the Seychelles last year. Nene got in trouble with the law last December when she was arrested in the Seychelles, accused of allegedly being involved in an international R7 billion bank fraud syndicate. According to previous media reports, she was arrested along with two other people, one believed to be from South Africa and the other from Sierra Leone. She pleaded guilty and paid an admission of guilt fine to return to her family in time for Christmas. DURBAN INDEPENDENT MEDIA