Another suspect arrested as Hawks investigate R114 million school corruption case

A 55-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with an alleged R114 million corruption scheme involving money intended for emergency school repairs and maintenance in Mpumalanga.

The woman is accused of receiving more than R1 million in funds allegedly linked to the scheme. Her arrest follows ongoing financial investigations by the Hawks, who are tracing transactions believed to connect service providers, government officials and other individuals to the alleged misuse of public money.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday following an operation involving the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation units in Middelburg and Nelspruit. She is expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on a charge of money laundering.

Investigators trace more than R1 million

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said investigators uncovered evidence that the woman allegedly received more than R1 million through transactions involving four service-provider companies and her husband, who is already an accused in the broader case.

A warrant for her arrest was issued by the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court after investigators allegedly established links between the transactions and the offences under investigation.

The case centres on approximately R114 million earmarked for emergency repairs and maintenance at schools across Mpumalanga. According to the Hawks, the money was allegedly diverted through a network involving service providers, government officials and other individuals.

The latest arrest forms part of efforts to follow the movement of the funds and identify people who may have benefited from the alleged scheme.

Forty suspects already implicated

The investigation gained national attention in February, when a coordinated Hawks operation led to 40 suspects being brought before the courts.

Those arrested included 21 directors of service-provider companies, 10 government officials and other individuals allegedly connected to the flow of money.

The accused face allegations involving fraud, theft, corruption, money laundering and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act.

The latest suspect is expected to face a money-laundering charge. The allegations against her have not been proven in court.

Millions intended for school repairs under scrutiny

The investigation concerns public funds intended to address emergency repairs and maintenance at schools in Mpumalanga.

The alleged diversion of this money raises questions about whether the resources reached the schools and infrastructure projects they were meant to support. The Hawks are continuing to investigate the transactions and the individuals potentially connected to them.

Major General Nico Gerber, the DPCI’s provincial head in Mpumalanga, said investigators remained committed to identifying everyone who may have benefited from the alleged criminal activity and ensuring that those implicated answer to the allegations in court.

The Hawks have also warned that further arrests remain possible as the investigation continues.

Accused expected back in court in December

The remaining accused are expected to return to court on 1 December 2026.

In a related development, one person previously arrested in the matter was released after investigators reportedly established that their credentials had allegedly been used without their knowledge.

With another suspect now facing a money-laundering charge, investigators are continuing to trace the financial transactions linked to the alleged R114 million scheme.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations will need to be tested through the court process.

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Source: The Citizen