Hawks, SIU, AFU seize R52m worth of assets in Covid-19 corruption case

Hawks

Cape Town — The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the  National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) seized R52.6 million worth of assets and properties across four provinces.

The assets are linked to 22 senior management officials, service providers, and entities involved in an alleged corruption network within the Mpumalanga Department of Public Work, a joint statement read.

“The seizure follows a preservation court order from the High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division, Mbombela obtained by the AFU. The order allows the AFU, SIU and Hawks to seize various assets in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West and Western Cape provinces associated with personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption,” the statement said.
The operation included serving orders at 34 locations, with 29 properties, 31 vehicles and a boat trailer.
The court order froze properties including houses, electronics, cars, household items, jewellery, ammunition, bank accounts, salaries, and bail monies.

The statement listed all the individuals and entities affected by the raid, which included six department officials and 16 service providers. The SIU’s investigation found multi-million rand PPE disinfection services contract tenders were allegedly awarded to suppliers who did not deliver the services after allegedly paying substantial kickbacks to the senior management officials and their family members.

Charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering are pending.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa directed the SIU, in terms of Proclamation R23 of 2020, to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration, malpractice, and payments made by State institutions relating to PPE procurement and the conduct of state employees.”

Kganyago said the preservation order is part of the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies to strengthen their fight against corruption.

“It highlights the misuse of positions of trust by state employees to enrich themselves at the expense of public service delivery and the economy,” Kganyago said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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