The Hawks arrived at the Lekwa Municipality in Standerton on Friday, 5 February to seize tender documents relating to service delivery.
The Standerton Advertiser spoke to Capt Dineo Sekgotodi the following day and asked who alerted them to possible fraudulent activities.
“A member of the community alerted us in August about alleged tender fraud,” Capt Sekgotodi said.
“Seven companies were allegedly paid for services, which were not rendered.”
According to the officer, an allegation of R47-million spent, was made.
A team consisting of commercial crime officers from Nelspruit, Secunda, Middelburg, Standerton Police and the Local Criminal Record Centre in Standerton were busy at the municipality. A total of seven companies are implicated.
“The records from 2017 up to 2020 were confiscated,” she added.
A case was opened against the municipality.
The allegations relate to money paid for service delivery tenders such as water and sanitation as well as roads.
“We are going to investigate each and every tender.”
Capt Sekgotodi took time to take photos of illegal dumping sites and was witness to the condition of the roads, when following the newspaper from Schwickard Street back to Burger Street.
She said the potholes are not recent and a result from the rain, but have been in existence for some time.
“Arrests will follow if any irregularities are found,” Capt Sekgotodi concluded.
