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The suspects allegedly ran a union to illegally circumvent recruitment processes.
FILE: A Hawks vehicle. Image: SAPS.
CAPE TOWN – Nine suspects, including two former Nelson Mandela Bay city officials, have been arrested on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
They will appear in court later on Friday.
The Hawks said Nelson Mandela Bay Township was among those selected for public bus service in 2010. The integrated public transportation system project was administered with funds allocated by the National Treasury.
In that same year another project was undertaken.
Authorities said the service providers chosen for these two projects were hired irregularly and prices were inflated.
The matter was reported to the Hawks more than two years ago following a Treasury audit between 2014 and 2017.
The suspects allegedly ran a union to illegally circumvent recruitment processes.
In addition, it is alleged that influential officials colluded with municipal officials and controlled decision-making in the appointment of specific individuals to important municipal positions.
This, according to the Hawks, was done to influence the procurement processes.
The purported goal was to ensure a steady stream of illegal payments from the municipality to union members.
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