Thirty-eight accused linked to the alleged looting of Mpumalanga Department of Education funds were granted combined bail of R1.625 million after a three-day hearing in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court.
Image: Hawks
Thirty-eight accused implicated in an alleged R114 million corruption scandal within the Mpumalanga Department of Education have been granted combined bail of R1,625,000 following a three-day application in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court.
Provincial spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, said the accused, including senior government officials, service providers, and private individuals, were arrested from Sunday, 22 February 2026, and appeared in court from Monday until Wednesday.
Investigations revealed that tenders worth R114 million were allegedly awarded by the department under the guise of emergency-required services and repairs. Some service providers were allegedly handpicked without following proper procurement procedures.
It is further alleged that certain service providers rendered substandard services, some were paid despite not performing any work, and in some instances were allegedly paid more than once for the same services.
The Hawks said money siphoned from the department was transferred from service providers’ accounts through various accounts until it allegedly reached government officials.
In terms of bail, a wheelchair-bound accused and two of the three students were each granted R5,000 bail. Three accused were granted R20,000 bail each, one was granted R30,000 bail, while 31 accused were granted R50,000 bail each.
Two of the accused service providers are pastors.
The provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, said: “We appreciate the hard work of the investigation team, the National Prosecuting Authority and operational members who provided support during the entire court proceedings.”
All 38 accused are expected to return to court on 26 March 2026.
The remaining two suspects are expected to hand themselves over to the investigating officer as arranged with their legal representatives.
IOL News