The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, also known as the Hawks raided the provincial Department of sport, arts, culture and recreation offices in Bloemfontein.
Yesterday the elite police unit conducted a raid at the department to collect evidence as part of their investigation launched into the department’s affair.
The Hawks confirmed that a search and seizure was conducted at the department’s premises situated in Henry Street in Bloemfontein. However, no details have been given regarding the raid. Employees at the department offices were reportedly barred from leaving the building or entering during the raid.
Investigation comes barely a month after a case of fraud and corruption was opened at the Mondeor police station in Johannesburg regarding alleged corruption in the procurement of the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) tender.
The complaint relates to alleged pre-payment of over R14 million to the successful bidder, “an action I regard as a breach of the Public Finance Management Act and the relevant regulations as well as specific terms of the said tender.”
The department under MEC Limakatso Mahasa has been in the public domain since the Free State High Court unfavourable ruled against a fraudulent tender awarded for organising this year’s Macufe. The court ruled with costs in favour of DS Consortium which interdicted the department and the C Squared Group, a communications and events agency based in Bloemfontein which was awarded the tender to organise the multi-million rand event. C Squared also lost the appeal to have judgement overturned against itself and department.
