Public Works ‘corruption mastermind’ set to be arrested

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says the mastermind behind a series of corrupt procurement deals at the Department of Public Works will be arrested over the next few days.

The looming arrest, which will follow hot on the heels of the arrest and court appearance of four others, relates to fraud and collusion totalling some R2.8 million at the department.

The four appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.

Jan Mathebula, Solomon Mojela, Romeo Malope and Prudence Mohale were released on bail of R2 000 each and the matter has been postponed to 17 June for further investigation.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says the Department of Public Works wrote to the unit in 2015 to request an investigation into procurement-related corruption.

Kganyago says the investigation uncovered supply chain management officials colluding with businesses, friends and family members to defraud the department.

“The SIU’s investigation revealed a trend of certain contractors being awarded more contracts than others. This disparate award of contracts was underpinned by a practice that indicated that entities linked to certain individuals and entities appeared to quote in collusion with each other.

“Six more individuals are expected to be arrested in the coming days, including the mastermind, and are expected to join the quartet in the box in June,” says Kganyago.

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