Investigation finds Mpumalanga Education multi-million rand tender was unnecessary

Investigations into a case of tender fraud at the Mpumalanga Education Department have revealed that there was no need for the tender in question to be procured.

Between 2018 and 2019, R113 million was allocated for repairing and maintaining 21 schools in the province.

However, a bulk of that money was instead distributed through a series of uncovered tender schemes.

Organised crime unit, the Hawks have arrested 36 people in the case, with four others still at large.

It's been eight years since millions of rands were looted from the Department of Education in Mpumalanga under the guise of repairing schools.

All this allegedly by senior officials in the department, some of whom are still its employees.

The money was laundered through companies of relatives of some of the officials who benefitted from millions in payouts.

All the beneficiaries have since been arrested during a major takedown by the Hawks this past weekend.

Despite the R113 million being allocated, the province’s Hawks head, Major General Nico Gerber, said nothing tangible was done in the schools.

“As we indicated the service providers were hand picked and there supply chain processes were circumvented, in some instances minor work was done, in some instances no work was done and in some instances was no work was needed to be done but it was part and parcel that was used to then generate this money and divert it in through a process of money laundering to the different individuals.”

A total of 32 suspects will apply for bail in the Mbombela Magistrates court on Tuesday.

The state is not opposing bail but has set bail at R50 000.

ALSO READ: Suspects accused of defrauding Mpumalanga Education Dept due in court