Central SA
Documents seized as Hawks raid offices of Free State department─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:16 Tue, 14 May 2024
The anti-corruption unit within the department had conducted its internal investigation that resulted in the suspension of at least one departmental official.
The Hawks have seized documents at the Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements in Bloemfontein.
The unit raided the offices on Monday (13/5) following allegations of fraud, corruption, and money laundering. Necessary measures were put in place after Human Settlements referred information for criminal investigations to the Hawks in April, said provincial Hawks spokesperson, Fikiswa Matoti.
The criminal investigations are about the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme where some officials were allegedly involved in fraudulent activities related to FLISP applications that were identified.
The anti-corruption unit within the department had conducted its internal investigation that resulted in the suspension of at least one departmental official. Matoti said the Hawks searched and seized all documents necessary for investigations.
The application was approved by the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (9/5). Documents and electronic devices were seized to continue with investigations.
Last year, the Special Investigation Unit confirmed their investigations at Free State provincial departments and one municipality. The departments in question were Human Settlements, Health, and the Premier’s Office, as well as the cash-strapped Theunissen-based Masilonyana Municipality.
