South Africa’s Hawks raided homes across Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Western Cape, arresting at least 20 suspects including a former acting education department head now in health HR, a chief financial officer, and businesspeople tied to 2019/2020 school maintenance contracts.
Officials and contractors allegedly inflated prices, approved fake work, and laundered funds meant for 21 rural schools, bypassing supply rules in what Hawks head Nico Gerber called ‘organised corruption.’ The 41 targeted face fraud, corruption, and theft charges, with court appearances set for Monday in Nelspruit as investigations continue.
The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested 23 people, including senior government officials implicated in a R114-million government tender corruption in the Department of Education. Newzroom Afrika’s @mwelimasilela has more.
Watch: https://t.co/9NuZbu8pNk pic.twitter.com/6Y3Tzzkd68
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 22, 2026