Bhisho has red-flagged a R45m toilet contract between the Chris Hani district municipality (CHDM) and a Kimberley-based company and ANC MP Mandla Mandela has demanded the arrest and prosecution of those involved.

The strong reaction comes in the wake of a Daily Dispatch exposé on Wednesday which detailed how the company, Izwelethu Cemforce, had already been paid R45m to build 4,600 stand-alone toilets in Cofimvaba despite not even starting on the project.

Since the publication of the investigation, the Dispatch has also been leaked documents which show Izwelethu Cemforce was supposed to commence work “within five days” of receiving the contract award letter or at a date agreed with the CHDM council.

The Dispatch investigation showed that CHDM awarded the contract on November 4, yet within a matter of days Izwelethu Cemforce was already invoicing the municipality. On December 6, R45m was paid into the company's account.