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Three people appeared in court this week for allegedly defrauding the Eastern Cape Education Department of R6 million.
Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said Mziwanele Mzileni, Bathandwa Mgoqi, and BoyBoy Nazo, appeared in the Belville Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town on Thursday.
She said the trio, who are originally from the Eastern Cape, face charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.
Mgolodela said the charges relate to the appointment of contractors for a project to eradicate “inappropriate school structures” and to provide “basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.”
The Department of Basic Education initiated the project under the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative and appointed several implementing agents who were tasked to appoint contractors to the schools allocated to them.
“During 2016, the Department of Roads and Public Works identified duplicate payments to various suppliers who were paid as having done work in the project. On conducting the audit of the work done, it became suspicious that these companies were paid for services that were never rendered,” she said.
Mgolodela said the matter was referred to the Hawks and the investigation revealed that the Department of Education was prejudiced in the amount of R6 million.
She said the three were granted bail of R20 000 each, and the matter was referred to the Zwelitsha Magistrate's Court in March next year.
The Hawks said four other people and their companies were arrested in East London and eQonce on Thursday and were due in court on Friday.
“More arrests are imminent,” Mgolodela said.
