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A Kwazulu Natal businessman and his daughter were granted bail after appearing in the Zwelitsha Magistrate's Court in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday for allegedly defrauding the Eastern Cape Education Department of over R4 million.
Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said 51-year-old Makhozandile Lukhope, the sole director of Amabongwe Building and Civil Contractors, and his 22-year-old daughter, Naledi, who is also the sole director of Tsunami PTY LTD, face charges of fraud, forgery and uttering.
They were arrested in Port Shepstone and Shelly Beach on Tuesday by the East London-based Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation team.
Mgolodela said the two companies, represented by their directors, allegedly submitted fraudulent lease agreements claiming to have offices in the Eastern Cape and were thereby awarded a tender meant for aspirant local entrepreneurs.
She said the matter was reported to the Hawks and the investigation revealed that the department was allegedly defrauded of R4.3 million.
Fifty-one-year-old Lukhope was granted bail of R4000 bail, while Naledi Lukhophe was released on bail of R2000.
Mgolodela said the matter was postponed to 19 August to the East London Regional Court "for pre-trial arrangements."
