Three suspects from the National Department of Health have been arrested by the Hawks for alleged fraud and theft dating back to 2023.
Image: Hawks
Three officials from the National Department of Health have been arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks an investigation into alleged fraud and theft involving over R1 million in public funds.
The trio, aged between 46 and 67, were arrested on Monday morning, March 2, 2026, by members of the Hawks’ National Serious Corruption Investigation unit after warrants of arrest were executed.
It is alleged that in 2023, more than R1 million was unduly awarded to a service provider in contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.
Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the suspects are expected to appear in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
They are facing charges of fraud and theft.
“The company of one of the suspects is also charged as the fifth juristic person, as the monies were paid to the company,” she said.
Mogale said a fourth suspect - the service provider - and her company have not yet been arrested.
Last week, IOL News reported that 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, February 22, 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 March 26, 2026.
The remaining two suspects are expected to hand themselves over to the investigating officer as arranged with their legal representatives.
IOL News