Kimberley, Northern Cape - Four Northern Cape roads and public works officials and the head of a security company appeared on fraud charges in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
The department's chief director Ruth Palm, deputy director Burt Barends, officials Bradley Slingers and Elias Selemla, and Karibuni Security Services director Motsamai Rantho were granted bail of R20 000 each, said Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana.
He said they were ordered to turn in their passports.
“They are accused of defrauding the department of more than R47
million by awarding security tenders to Karibuni Security Services,” said Tawana.
Police had been investigating them for over a year and arrested them on Thursday morning.
The matter was postponed until February 28 and was transferred to the provincial high court. - Sapa