A company run by a matric pupil has been awarded an R800 000 tender by a KwaZulu-Natal municipality to build a gravel road, the Mercury newspaper reported on Monday.
According to the report, Bheka Nxumalo, a pupil at Ixopo’s Little Flower Secondary School, runs the company ZDN Trading that is allegedly owned by his elder brother, Zamokwakhe Nxumalo.
ZDN trading was awarded the tender by the Sisonke district municipality, of which the Ubuhlebezwe local municipality is a part.
According to the report the elder Nxumalo, who resigned as a director of the company in 2009, is the mayor of this municipality.
At the time the tender was awarded the elder Nxumalo was a councillor in the municipality and treasurer of the ANC’s Harry Gwala region (Sisonke).
The newspaper quoted Zamokwakhe Nxumalo saying he had nothing to do with the company, but reported it had proof he went on a site visit with rival bidders in 2010. At the time Bheka Nxumalo was 16 years old. — Sapa