Members of the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation and serious commercial crime investigation in East London pounced on high-ranking officials in the office of the premier in the Eastern Cape.
This after allegations of fraud, forgery, utterance, money-laundering, and contravention of section 86 (1) of the Public Finance Management Act surfaced.
According to the Hawks, the eight suspects, aged between 43 and 71, were arrested in a joint operation on Monday.
It is alleged that in January 2016, the provincial department of education requested the office of the premier to assist with the emergency procurement of 72 temporary classrooms and furniture to be used in Gqeberha and Uitenhage.
A company was appointed for the tender worth more than R20-million.
However, said the Hawks, information was received implicating senior officials for allegedly following improper procurement processes during the appointment of the said company.
It is also alleged that the appointed service provider was closely linked to the senior officials in the office of the premier.
Suspects arrested in morning raid
Further allegations are that the delivery of the said classrooms was not completed within the province, however, funds allocated accordingly were exhausted.
The acting provincial head of the Hawks, Brigadier Selina Motlalepula Maponya, said the suspects were arrested in Gauteng early on Monday and taken back to the Eastern Cape.
“The matter was reported to the Hawks for probing which culminated in the arrest of the eight suspects from Gauteng province during the early hours of today,” said Maponya.
The group is expected to appear in the Zwelitsha magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Maponya added: “Well done to members of the joint operation in ensuring that the suspects face the full might of the law.
“The eight are in transit to the Eastern Cape where they will make their first court appearance on December 12 at Zwelitsha magistrate’s court.”
