The Hawks have confirmed that their investigations into widespread corruption at several municipalities in Limpopo are at an advanced stage, with arrests expected soon. The announcement comes amid mounting public anger over allegations of graft that have left critical service delivery projects abandoned and communities in distress.
The serious allegations, which have circulated extensively on social media, accuse municipal officials and political leaders in the Polokwane and Mogalakwena municipalities of awarding lucrative tenders to associates in exchange for kickbacks.
The dire consequences of these alleged corrupt activities are visible on the ground. In Polokwane, a multi-billion rand wastewater treatment plant, intended to relieve residents of Moro Park and surrounding villages from the stench of sewage, stands abandoned after the contractor left the site months ago.
Nearby an incomplete stormwater drainage project has left a massive, open hole that has been a hazard for years. Residents report that their homes regularly flood when it rains. One frustrated resident stated, “As soon as they get there, everything was stuck. They stopped working and we were stuck like this for 2 years… The hole is a safety hazard for our children.”
The situation is equally severe in the Mogalakwena municipality, located in Mokopane. The area has been plagued by allegations of political instability, maladministration, and even political killings. A multi-million rand stadium in Moshate village has been completely abandoned for over seven years.
Allegations of high-level corruption were recently amplified by a social media post, purportedly from Municipal Manager Maurice Maluleke. The post claimed that within a single year, more than R1 billion had been paid to companies linked to Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha and Cooperative Governance MEC Basikopo Makamu. Both officials have publicly denied these allegations.
Residents who were promised relief by a multi-million rand water treatment plant in Apel now say they still struggle to access clean running water years after the project began. One resident expressed the community’s pain, alleging, “When they want to loot money they come to the villages… they are using us to loot money from the municipality. The municipality keeps looting the money that was meant for the project.”
In response to the crises, municipal leadership has cited various reasons for the delays. The Executive Mayor of Polokwane attributed the stalled wastewater plant to “budgetary constraints” and said the municipality is negotiating with the National Treasury for additional funds. For the drainage project, he apologized and cited the need for special equipment to drill through rock.
Both the Polokwane and Mogalakwena mayors reiterated their administrations’ commitment to rooting out corruption. The Mayor of Mogalakwena acknowledged wrongdoing in the Apel water project, confirming that several officials and contractors have already been arrested on corruption charges related to it. He also confirmed that the stalled Moshate stadium project is under investigation by law enforcement, with the municipality pursuing civil claims to recover misappropriated funds.
The Hawks have confirmed the scope of their work is broad. A representative said, “We are investigating a few cases of corruption affecting several municipalities… We are still busy with the investigation. Other cases [are] at NPA; we are waiting for them to give us further instructions. We may see arrests.”
The unit also promised to pursue asset forfeiture, stating they would seize any property or equipment purchased with the proceeds of corruption. Despite the deep-seated issues, both municipalities have reported improved audit outcomes in the latest reporting period.
