Free State Hawks spokesperson, Linda Steyn, says the raid comes after a whistle-blower informed them about fraud and corruption allegations at the Bophelo House back in May. She confirms the search and seizure operation relates to irregular tender processes of several companies and the estimated total involved in the investigations underway amounts to R240 million. Steyn tells OFM News no arrests have been effective as of yet and that “a number of evidential documents relevant to the investigation were seized.”

Health department's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, meanwhile said they co-operated with the law enforcement agency during the raid yesterday and will continue co-operating throughout the investigations.

The raid at the Bophelo House came just a few months after the Hawks 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 last year 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 Gupta-linked project is still under investigation by the State Capture Commission of Inquiry.

OFM News