KZN government officials arrested for R25 million catering tender

Five senior KwaZulu-Natal government officials in the Office of the Premier, Sihle Zikalala, were arrested on fraud and corruption charges linked to a R25 million catering tender. 

Brigadier Hangwani Malaudzi, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks), confirmed that the government officials appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday. 

ALSO READ: KZN government misappropriates R30-million of Covid-19 funds 

Lennox Mabaso, KZN government spokesperson said some of the implicated individuals had already been placed on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of an internal disciplinary process.

“Now that the matter is in the hands of the criminal justice system, we are duty-bound to allow the process to unfold.”

“We, however, wish to reiterate our position that as government we are committed to good and clean governance. We are fully committed to running a corruption-free government and will therefore deal with all types of fraud and corruption whenever these raise their ugly heads.”

ALSO READ: (VIDEO) R130 million sanitary towels programme a bumbling failure – KZN MEC

Mabaso said the Office of the Premier is committed to fighting corruption and enforcing consequence management.

The accused are set to appear in court again on 2 October.

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