The Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced a former Msunduzi Municipality official to 10 years’ direct imprisonment following his conviction on two counts of corruption.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nhlakanipho Wiseman Dlamini (45), who was employed as an acting Fleet Control Advisor at the municipality, was found guilty of soliciting bribes from a municipal service provider.

“Dlamini was employed at Msunduzi Municipality…and a company named EWCop was contracted to supply and maintain vehicle tracking devices for the municipal vehicles. During 2018, EWCop’s contract with the municipality ended, and the contract was subsequently extended on a month-to-month basis pending the outcome of the award for a new tender.

“Dlamini then approached EWCop and solicited their offer to secure the pending tender in favour of EWCop. Dlamini further solicited R100 000 from EWCop to ensure that the outstanding payments in respect of the month-to-month contract were paid to EWCop,” the NPA said in a statement.

A trap was set up in accordance with section 252 A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, and Dlamini was arrested between November 2019 and January 2020, after receiving the ‘trap’ money.

Dlamini was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each count of t corruption.  Six years of the second count run concurrently with the first, resulting in an effective 10-year sentence.

“The NPA welcomes this successful prosecution. Together with our partners in the Justice Cluster, we will ensure that corrupt officials are brought to book. Rooting out corruption remains an organisational priority,” the statement concluded.

Originally posted on SAnews.gov.za