Hawks make sweeping arrests in Mpumalanga education fraud scandal

Hawks arrest 20 suspects in multi-province Mpumalanga Education Department fraud probe, targeting over R113 million. Officials and service providers face charges of theft, fraud, money laundering, and corruption. TheDirectorate for Priority Crime Investigation(Hawks) have arrested 20 individuals as part of a nationwide operation targeting fraud and corruption in the Department of Education, the head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber said.

Speaking during a media briefing on Sunday, Gerber explained that the arrests were part of a broader investigation that began in 2020 following reports of irregularities during the 2019/2020 financial year. “We had an organised arrest across South Africa. We had arrests in Cape Town, Gauteng, Limpopo and the majority of the arrests obviously here in the Mpumalanga area,” he said.

The investigation centres on officials who allegedly manipulated emergency repairs and maintenance contracts for 21 schools. Gerber said only a small portion of the repairs was actually completed, while pricing and tenders were highly inflated and service providers were handpicked, bypassing proper supply chain processes. “Now, these contractors then worked with these officials.

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There were 17 service providers which have been identified and who will be arrested and will appear in court with the 10 officials,” Gerber said. He added that the suspects include the acting Head of Department at the time, the Chief Directors for Implementation, the Director for Planning, and the acting Chief Financial Officer in the Department of Education, with some already in custody. The suspects are expected to face charges including theft, fraud, money laundering, and contraventions of section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECA) as well as the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

“We will then have 40 physical persons that we will be arresting. At this stage, we’re standing at 20,” Gerber said. He revealed that the total amount involved in the scheme exceeds R114 million, which was allegedly channelled through an intricate network of money laundering involving government officials and their families. Funds intended for schools in rural areas were misappropriated, he said.

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