Two more government officials implicated in irregularities at bulk water supplier Mhlathuze Water have been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to six.
Among them is a senior official in the KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s office, a senior official at Mhlathuze Water, as well as service providers.
The arrests are part of an ongoing operation by the Hawks’ National Clean Audit Task Team and Serious Corruption Investigation.
The fraud and corruption amounts to R37-million. Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo says two of the six are charged with defeating the ends of justice as well as intimidation.
“The two individuals that is the senior manager in the premier office, as well as the accomplice, are charged with allegations of defeating the ends of justice as well as intimidation. The other four are charged with fraud and corruption as well as money laundering. This follows investigating into the Mhlathuze Water Board where irregular appointments were reported of service providers. That is an illegal panel that was done without following the supply management protocols, as well as the contravention of the financial management act.”
