Three male suspects aged between 44 and 59 will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Thursday, 15 May 2025 for alleged fraud, theft, and money laundering relating to the building of low-cost housing in the Nala Local Municipality.
Free State Hawks Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli said they were arrested on 14 May 2025 in Bothaville, Welkom, and Bloemfontein by Serious Corruption Investigation detectives. The suspects are a development officer, consulting engineer, and project manager.
In May 2021, the Department of Human Settlements appointed a service provider to build 47 foundations in Bothaville as part of the first phase of the project. Over R1,1 million was paid to the service provider. However, it was later discovered that only 14 foundations were built despite the department being billed for 47.
A Hawks investigation into the matter pointed to a collaboration between the service provider, development officer, consulting engineer, and project manager. Evidence to this effect was presented before the prosecution, resulting in warrants for their arrest being issued.
The arrest of the service provider is imminent.