PRETORIA: A 31-years-old suspect is expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrates court this morning, following his arrest in a joint operation by the Hawks’ national Serious Corruption Investigation and the Special Investigative Unit in Mpumalanga on 09 August 2021.
The suspect was arrested after offering and handing over fifty thousand rand (R50,000) to the complainant in order to have a case relating to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) against his sister disappear. The case in question is against an official from the Department of Public Works in Mpumalanga.
The complainant had reported that the individual contacted her and requested to meet. They met and the suspect requested the SIU official to make the case disappear. Upon finalizing the amount, the suspect went to collect the money. The suspect later returned and upon handing over the gratification, he was arrested.
Further search of the suspect, it was discovered that he had more extra cash in his possession amounting to R63 600.00 which was also seized.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya commended the team members from the SIU and the Hawks for always working together in ensuring that we uphold and protect the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic. “Those who try to corrupt our members, will learn the hard way that we have adopted a Zero tolerance approach to corruption, said Lt Gen Lebeya.
