By Alicia Mmashakana
Seven suspects, including a former MP, have been arrested for alleged corruption in connection with an R27 million tender.
The high-ranking officials and company directors turned themselves in to the Hawks on Wednesday morning.
They will appear in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court once they have been processed.
Their arrests follow a forensic report by the Specialised Investigating Unit into the 2016 tender.
It involved the Gauteng agriculture and rural development department issuing a tender to integrate and formalise waste operatives and waste into the mainstream waste management industry.
It was awarded to Enviro-Mobi in March 2017.
“During the investigation it was established that the chief director and Chief Financial Officer processed and paid over R25 million to Enviro-Mobi for 200 motorised three wheelers, though all goods were still in the possession of the service provider,” Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said.
“The contract agreement between the department and Enviro-Mobi stipulated that the department may consider to pay on condition that 50% of the work has been completed and no upfront payments may be made to the service provider,” Mbambo said in a statement.
The suspects will face charges of fraud, theft and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
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