South African marketing agency Media Corner has said it will cooperate with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) over its probe into a ZAR756 million (US$71.6 million) tender awarded to it by the Department of Communications (DoC), which it is alleged to have invoiced for in spite of having done no billable work.
Allegations by former DoC spokesperson Wisani Ngobeni – who has since lost legal protection as a whistleblower – claim Media Corner was billing the DoC for the fee, related to an digital migration awareness campaign, without carrying out any work, leading in February to president Jacob Zuma authorising the SIU to investigate.
Over the weekend the unit raided the DoC offices, and although Media Corner says it is yet to be approached by the SIU, it said it is willing to cooperate.
“Media Corner acknowledges the media interest in the SIU investigation and is fully supportive and respectful of the process that is currently underway,” the company said in a statement.
“The contract between Media Corner and Department of Communications is governed by a Non-Disclosure Agreement which prohibits it from discussing the specifics thereof.
These queries should be directed to the relevant parties within the Department of Communications.”
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
