A total of eight suspects aged between 43 and 71 were arrested by the East London Serious Corruption Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks, National Serious Corruption Investigation of the Hawks jointly with South African Police Service (SAPS) Joint Anti – Corruption team and Gauteng National Intervention Unit on 11 December 2023. The octet inclusive of high ranking officials from the Premier’s office and company directors were arrested for allegations of fraud , forgery, utterance, money laundering and contravention of Section 86 (1) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
It is alleged that in January 2016, the Department of Education requested the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier (OTP) to assist on an emergency procurement of 72 temporary classrooms and furniture to be deployed in the Gqeberha and Uitenhage area.
A company was appointed for the tender worth more than R20 million. Information was received implicating senior officials in following improper procurement processes during the appointment of the said company. It was also further alleged that the preferred service provider was closely linked to the senior OTP officials. Further allegations are that the delivery of the said classrooms was not completed within the province but funds allocated accordingly were exhausted.
The matter was reported to the Hawks for probing which culminated in the arrest of the 8 suspects from Gauteng province during the early hours of today. The eight are in transit to the Eastern Cape where they will make their first court appearance on 12 December 2023 at Zwelitsha Magistrate’s court.
The Acting Provincial Head, Brigadier Selina Motlalepula Maponya lauded the joint venture of the teams in ensuring that the suspects are brought forward to face the mighty arm of Lady Justice.
