The Hawks' spokesperson, Philani Nkwalase, in a statement says suspects from as far as the Free State and Mpumalanga are amongst those issued with summons by the Kimberley-based Hawks team. It includes a private company. 

He says these are additional suspects after three have already been arrested in November 2020. They have made several appearances at the Douglas Magistrate’s Court for corruption, fraud and money laundering.

Nkwalase says it’s alleged that between 2014 to 2016, the suspects from Griekwaland-Wes Korporatief Beperk (GWK) allegedly colluded with an employee from AG Equipment Direct LLC (AG) and inflated prices when quoting for equipment and proceeded to defraud GWK of an estimated amount of R5 million, which was allegedly shared amongst the suspects.

These additional suspects were allegedly linked to a charge of money laundering and are expected to appear in court on 22 July 2021. Three other suspects linked to the case include Johannes Lodewikus Kruger (60), Rudolph Kemp (47), George Wheeler (60), and Johannes van Heerden (51). 

“The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, lauded the members for the successful operation which secured the apprehension of the six suspects. “The DPCI will continue to deal with corruption in all its various forms,” Nkwalase adds.

OFM News