Eight people were arrested in George over the weekend on fraud and corruption charges, the Western Cape government said on Sunday.
Western Cape premier Hellen Zille’s spokesman Zak Mbhele said the Friday arrests were related to supply chain management and the procurement of goods and services.
The arrests were the result of investigations by the forensic investigation unit working with audit firm Deloitte and the police service. Zille lauded the work of the police.
“They play a critical role in helping us clamp down on corruption,” she said in a statement.
“The successful collaboration between the FIU in the Western Cape government, Deloitte as a private firm and the SAPS in George to uncover and fight corruption is what we mean by ‘Better Together’.”
The eight appeared in court on Friday, were released on bail and had their cases remanded to May 18.
This follows arrests on the third of February when another eight people from George were arrested for selling government baby formula and one provincial employee suspended for defrauding the Paarl hospital of almost R2million.
These eight also appeared in court on Friday, were released on bail and had their cases remanded until May 18 as well.
Deloitte has worked with the FIU since 2011, tasked with rooting out corruption and recovering money stolen or misappropriated from public coffers in the Western Cape.
As part of their contract, Deloitte has been asked to recruit and train a team of forensic investigators — a team that would carry on with the work when Deloitte’s contract expires.
