MOKOPANE – The Directorate for Priority Crimes’ (Hawks) take-down operation at the Mogalakwena Municipality has yielded an additional four arrests.
The operation was conducted at the municipality earlier this morning as members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit swopped in after allegations of corruption and fraud at the municipality.
The operation saw 13 officials, which includes senior municipal officials, politicians and prominent business people, handcuffed and escorted from the premises in police vans.
Read more: 13 arrested at Mogalakwena Municipality as Hawks swoop in
Hawks Limpopo spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke said the arrested number of suspects has now increased to 15, as well as two other companies.
“The arrests are a follow-up to a takedown operation that was conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit assisted by Limpopo Highway Patrol and Naboomspruit Crime Prevention members in which 13 suspects and 11 companies were arrested this morning,” he explained.
Maluleke said it is alleged that the officials received gratification from service providers and that other companies were paid money for services not rendered. “The municipality suffered a loss of over R15m due to these illegal activities.”
The officials are expected to make their first appearance in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (September 1).
