The raid underway at the Bophelo House comes just months after they raided the Free State Development Corporation (FDC) regarding investigations into billions looted from the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank. 

The FDC came in the spotlight in 2018 following the release of Jerry Motau’s ‘Great Bank Heist’ report on the liquidated VBS. Motau alleged the FDC, along with 52 other entities and individuals, received “gratuitous payments” from the bank. The FDC vehemently denied that the more than R104 million was “gratuitous” stressing that it was an investment instead. The chairperson of the entity’s board, Hantsi Matseke, said at the time that the entity had loaned the bank R100 million in June 2017. The bank repaid its loan in four tranches, the last of which was R54 million.

The raid at the Health Department also follows one at the Premier's Office when the Hawks conducted a search and seizure operation over the controversial Vrede Dairy project last year. The controversial project is being probed by the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.

Health department's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, tells OFM News the raid at their offices relates to supply chain processes and they are co-operating with the law enforcement agency.

OFM News/Olebogeng Motse