FREE STATE: Three suspects aged 45, 46 and 48 are expected to appear before the Welkom Magistrates' Court today, 10 July 2023. They were arrested yesterday, 09 July 2023 and today, 10 July 2023 in Bloemfontein and Welkom by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Welkom.
It was reported that during 2017, Matjhabeng Local Municipality appointed two service providers, a contractor and a consultant, for the Nyakallo storm water system project. A 45-year-old suspect, who is a former employee of the municipality, was appointed as a project management unit engineer during the construction. During the preliminary audit by the Auditor-General, it was discovered that fraudulent payments to the amount of more than R7 million were made to the contractor for the services which were not rendered. It is alleged that the consultant confirmed that the work was done by the contractor in order for the payment to be processed. It is further alleged that the project management unit engineer also supported the consultant and approved the payment.
The matter was then reported to the Hawks for further investigation which culminated in the suspects being arrested.