The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Free State arrested five suspects in Gauteng and Free State on Tuesday morning. Photo: Twitter/@SAPoliceService.
Senior government officials, company directors arrested over ‘Winnie Mandela Museum’ fraud
The Hawks arrested five suspects in connection with fraudulent activities during the ‘Winnie Mandela Museum’ project between 2008 and 2010.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Free State arrested five suspects in Gauteng and Free State on Tuesday morning. Photo: Twitter/@SAPoliceService.
The Hawks swooped in on five suspects – aged between 41 and 81 – on Tuesday morning, 20 September, in Free State and Gauteng. The former Head of Department in the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and two former Lejweleputswa District Municipality municipal managers were the government officials among the arrested suspects.
HAWKS MAKE ARRESTS WINNIE MANDELA MUSEUM FRAUD
Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo said the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Free State carried out the arrests.
“It is alleged that during the period of January 2008 until December 2010, money was allocated to the Brandfort Museum project popularly known as the Winnie Mandela Museum by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture,” said Singo.
During the project, which was coordinated by DSAC and Lejweleputswa Municipality, the money was allegedly squandered and service providers were appointed without following the proper procurement processes.
The Department suffered a loss of more than R700 000 due to the alleged fraudulent activities, said the Hawks.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 20 September. They will face charges of fraud, theft, contravention of public finance management act and the contravention of municipal finance management act.
More arrests are expected to follow.
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