Eskom employee Johannes Mfalapitsa and his family allegedly siphoned millions from a state tender to build a luxury home in Polokwane. The SIU has frozen key assets as investigations continue. Picture Credits: Freepik
By Aisha Zardad
Polokwane – The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has moved to freeze the assets of an Eskom employee accused of using state funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including a luxury home in Bendor, Polokwane, and a car.
Johannes Seroke Mfalapitsa, an Eskom surveyor and project manager, and his family allegedly benefited to the tune of R8 million through an irregularly awarded R54-million tender. Mfalapitsa has since been suspended.
According to the SIU, Mfalapitsa and his network of family and associates received unlawful payments from companies favoured in the tender for High-Definition Surveying Services. His spouse, Ndiyafhi Denge, allegedly received over R2.2 million, while his brother David Mfalapitsa received more than R228,000.
The network also involved Mpho Negondeni, raised by Denge, whose company Tabogambambe (Pty) Ltd was used as a conduit. Over R3.6 million flowed from service providers to them, funding the Bendor property and other payments.
The SIU further highlighted Mfalapitsa’s close relationship with Bulelani Lengoasa, director of Buzwe Geomatics Engineering Services, who reportedly made direct payments exceeding R155,000 to contractors building the luxury swimming pool and balustrades at the home.
Mfalapitsa allegedly held conflicting roles in the tender process, including drafting the scope of work, evaluating bidders’ technical submissions, and acting as project manager for the awarded contract — all while his spouse was already receiving payments from a bidder.
Forensic analysis revealed how Eskom money was siphoned through three service providers — Buzwe, NTG Solutions, and Litha Langa Consulting — who received over R29 million collectively under the contract. The companies allegedly funneled millions back to Mfalapitsa’s network to fund construction and luxury additions.
The Special Tribunal’s preservation order freezes the Bendor property, valued at R3.9 million, and a Nissan NP200 bakkie, both believed to be proceeds of the scheme. At least R1.5 million of the home’s construction costs reportedly came from unlawful payments, while the bakkie was purchased using funds traced to the scheme.
The SIU is preparing civil action to review and set aside Eskom’s tender awards and recover financial losses suffered by the state, as investigations into the alleged corruption continue.
