Eight arrested in City of Cape Town tender fraud probe

Eight suspects appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court for tender fraud within the construction industry in Cape Town. Picture: SAPS

Eight suspects appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court for tender fraud within the construction industry in Cape Town. Picture: SAPS

Published Nov 24, 2022

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Cape Town - Eight arrests were made on Thursday and more arrests are expected, as police probe tender fraud and corruption in the construction sector within the City of Cape Town.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said the suspects were arrested at various locations.

“As part of ongoing investigations into alleged corrupt activities involving tender fraud in the construction sector within the City of Cape Town municipality, provincial commercial crimes detectives have executed eight warrants of arrest on Thursday.

“The staggered arrests, which started from early morning on Thursday at various locations in Cape Town, are the culmination of protracted investigations into complaints of fraud and corruption that entails the inflation of invoices, irregular payments of service providers for construction work not undertaken and other illicit activities,” Potelwa said.

Further details were expected to emerge in court.

Potelwa said the SAPS expected to make more arrests.

The suspects were arrested at various locations in Cape Town. Picture: SAPS

“The eight arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon on charges that relate to fraud and corruption. As the investigation continues, more arrests are imminent. Further details about the case and the unfolding investigations are expected to emerge from court,” Potelwa said.

Cape Town crime-fighting activist, Hanif Loonat said he lodged a complaint with SAPS in October 2020, requesting the investigation of a construction company and their alleged corrupt relationship with the City of Cape Town, specifically dealing with construction tenders.

He said the case was extensively investigated by the Commercial Crime Unit of the SAPS.

This is a developing story

Cape Times

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