The Talane forensic report into fraud and corruption in the Limpopo Legislature has painted a picture of a free-for-all looting spree, collusion, fronting, and price inflation by the three contracted travel agencies 

One of them, Ketlakgona Supply and Projects, was allegedly paid R1 million more than it quoted for arranging a trip to Tanzania in September 2024.

According to a forensic report conducted by law firm Talane and Associates Attorneys, the Legislature paid Ketlakgona Supply and Projects R2.1 million even though the company quoted R937,800. 

The report found that the same travel agency allegedly inflated prices for flights and accommodation on the Zanzibar and Tanzania trips, defrauding taxpayers by more than R600 000 during the 2024/2025 financial year alone.

And a total of R12.8 million for the 2019/2020 to 2023/2024 financial years on international travel “could not be verified as a result of the failure by Ms Boshomane T to submit agreed documents”. 

Another travel agency, Phophi Travel Tours and Projects, allegedly inflated prices by R121 000 on flights and accommodation it facilitated for the trip to Zimbabwe undertaken by MPLs. 

Image Travel, the third contracted company, was found to have been awarded a R1.2 million contract irregularly in that the Legislature allowed the company to submit 11 quotations on the trip to Sydney, Australia,  more than a month after the closing date. 

Last month, African Times reported that the Talane report revealed that senior Limpopo Legislature officials allegedly committed fraud and corruption worth an estimated R136 million by creating and paying fictitious companies between 2019 and 2024. 

They allegedly deleted records from the Legislature’s information technology and payment systems to conceal the theft and protect beneficiaries, who are believed to include senior politicians. 

According to the forensic report, the appointment of Ketlakgona Supply and Projects, Image Travel and Phophi Travel Tours and Projects “did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution and the Supply Chain Management Policy of the Legislature”. 

“The Legislature suffered a financial loss as a result of [the] inflated price amounting to R94,749.00 on flights and accommodation and R37,500.00 for daily airport transfers on the Zanzibar trip facilitated by Ketlakgona Supply and Projects. The Legislature suffered a financial loss as a result of [the] inflated price amounting to R462,160.00 on flights and accommodation on the Tanzania trip facilitated by Ketlakgona Supply and Projects,” the Talane forensic report read in part. 

It added that the Limpopo Legislature paid Ketlakgona Supply and Projects more than twice what it quoted for. 

“Two purchase orders issued on 19 September 2024 with the amount of R1,296,966.00 and R807,665.00 were issued in favour of Ketlakgona Supply and Projects on the trip to Tanzania. There is a difference in amounts on the two orders dated 19 September 2024 to the approved quotation amount of R937,800.00 submitted by Ketlakgona Supply and Projects on the Tanzania trip,” the report added.

The report also found that “the irregular expenditure for the 2024/2025 financial year was recorded as R4,138, 888.18 due to the expenditure incurred without following procurement processes as per the provisions of the Constitution and the Supply Chain Management Policy in the appointment of Ketlakgona Supply and Projects, Image Travel, Phophi Travel and Emirates flight tickets,” the report further said. 

The Talane forensic report recommended that the Limpopo Legislature “must declare the appointment of Ketlakgona Supply and Projects, Image Travel and Phophi Travel Tours as irregular”. 

It further recommended that Maake, the Secretary of the Limpopo Legislature, take steps to recover the financial loss suffered by the institution as a result of inflated prices by the travel agencies. 

“The Accounting Officer must recover the financial loss suffered by the Legislature as a result of inflated prices amounting to R94,749.00 on flights and accommodation and R37,500.00 for daily airport transfers on the Zanzibar trip from Ketlakgona Supply and Projects. The Accounting Office must recover the financial loss suffered by the Legislature as a result of inflated prices amounting to R462,160.00 on flights and accommodation on the Tanzania trip from Ketlakgona Supply and Projects,” the Talane report said.

“The Accounting Officer must declare the appointment of Image Travel on the Sydney trip as irregular owing to the transgression regarding submission of quotations. The Accounting Officer must recover the financial loss suffered by the Legislature as a result of inflated prices amounting to R121, 027.50 on flights and accommodation on the Zimbabwe trip from Phophi Travel.” 

According to the report, there was “no evidence to prove that Ketlakgona Supply and Projects are registered with either ASATA or IATA but was allowed to handle travel management”.

The report further recommended that the Secretary of the Limpopo Legislature, Dr Tim Maake, open a criminal case with the police “on the collusion between Ketlakgona Supply and Projects and Mmamokgadi Travel Tours and Projects in the submission of the quotations on the Zanzibar trip”. 

Phistos Mmatlou Pitsi, the Operations Manager at Ketlakgona Supply and Projects, failed to respond to repeated calls and WhatsApp messages for comment. 

The Talane forensic report further revealed that Phophi Travel Tours, which is based in Polokwane, allegedly defrauded taxpayers by inflating prices to the tune of R121 000. 

“The Legislature suffered a financial loss as a result of inflated prices amounting to R121,027.50 on flights and accommodation on the Zimbabwe trip facilitated by Phophi Travel,” the report said.  

Khathu Ramabulana, the managing director of Phophi Travel Tours, sidestepped direct questions about allegations of fraud and irregular tenders levelled against the company. He said the travel agency had neither seen nor been formally provided with a copy of the Talane report. 

“As a supplier, Phophi Travel takes procurement integrity and compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, with the utmost seriousness. We shall endeavour to have sight of the copy of the report. Accordingly, we reserve our right to comment substantively once we have been afforded a fair opportunity to review the allegations and verify them against our project records,” said Ramabulana. 

Moreover, the Talane forensic report revealed that Image Travel was allegedly appointed irregularly. According to Image Travel’s website, the company started in 2011 from “humble beginnings and has grown into one of the leading travel and tour operators in the Polokwane area” under the “competent leadership of Ms F Amod”.

“The appointment of Image Travel to the amount of R1,296,966 is irregular in the sense that they were allowed to submit eleven (11) quotations, which included four (4) that were submitted twenty-eight (28) and forty (40) days after the closing date on the Sydney trip,” said the report.

Through her lawyer, Chayya. S Attorneys, Image Travel manager Fatima Ally denied that her company was awarded a contract irregularly and that prices were inflated. 

The law firm said even though Ally had not seen the Talane forensic report, she rejected its findings that the company was allegedly involved in price inflation and other irregularities committed in the Limpopo Legislature.  

“Our client categorically rejects any suggestion that it knowingly participated in any procurement process that was unlawful or inconsistent with the Constitution or the Limpopo Legislature’s procurement policies. Image Travel participated in the procurement process in good faith and acted in accordance with the instructions and contractual arrangements communicated by the contracting authority.”

“In the absence of the report and any supporting evidence, our client is unable to comment on the alleged finding that its appointment was irregular. Should any competent authority formally raise concerns with our client, it will engage fully and cooperate as required,” said Chayya. S Attorneys in a letter to African Times. 

The law firm added that Ally denied inflating prices and being party to any fraud and corruption. 

“Our client rejects the allegation that it overcharged the Limpopo Legislature. Image Travel is unaware of any factual or legal basis for this allegation. All invoices submitted related to services rendered in accordance with the applicable contractual terms and were processed through the Legislature’s established procedures.”

“Our client unequivocally denies having played any part in fraud, corruption, or any procurement irregularities. Image Travel maintains that all services rendered were lawful, bona fide, and above board. Our client has not been found by any court, tribunal, or other competent authority to have engaged in any fraudulent or corrupt conduct,” Chayya. S Attorneys added. 

The law firm said Ally “remains committed to cooperating with any lawful investigation and, should it be provided with the relevant report or any official findings”. 

Andries Lekalakala, the spokesperson for the Limpopo Legislature, did not respond to calls and a WhatsApp message requesting a comment on the Talane report and its findings against  Ketlakgona Supply and Projects, Phophi Travel Tours and Projects, and Image Travel. 

Earlier, African Times reported that Limpopo ANC Chief Whip Essob Mokgonyana allegedly orchestrated a campaign against Maake to protect senior officials implicated in fraud and corruption estimated at R136 million. 

According to sources within the Legislature and the provincial ANC, Mokgonyana wanted Maake removed to stop him from implementing the recommendations of a damming forensic report which found that senior managers allegedly siphoned off millions of taxpayers’ money and then deleted records.

Mokgonyana denied all allegations levelled against him. 

Maake has been hauled before a disciplinary committee, but the outcome has yet to be announced.