Two men appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the Free State linked to the Mangaung Metro Municipality tender fraud.
Moemedi Tswelopele Tennyson Seekoei, 43, and Tsolofelo Innocent August, 39, are charged with fraud, forgery, uttering, and money laundering.
The duo was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks).
The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said it received information about irregularities on the bid and awarding of a tender to render trade waste collection services for businesses around Mangaung Metro.
“Two companies, including one owned by the suspect (August), were appointed. The suspects allegedly submitted fraudulent roadworthy certificates for the trucks they were going to use,” Matoti said.
"They also provided fraudulent referral letters while bidding for the tender. Mangaung Metro paid a joint amount of about R2.7 million for the services.”
The matter was reported to the Hawks culminating in two warrants of arrest issued against the directors of both companies.
On Thursday, December 5, the first suspect was traced and arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein.
Matoti said Seekoei, who was also being sought handed himself over to the Hawks on Friday, December 6.
The duo made a brief appearance and were released on R10,000 bail each. The matter was postponed until March 6.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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