By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Hawks have swooped on the homes of former officials of the Office of the Chief Justice amid its investigation into allegations that some officials benefited from a R225 million IT contract.
The Hawks conducted a search and seizure operation on Tuesday.
The office’s former chief financial officer, spokesperson and case management director had set up a six-year contract that started during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Hawks believe the three had set themselves up to benefit from the contract awarded to a multimedia and technology company.
Captain Lloyd Ramovha said, “The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team simultaneously descended on the premises of the three implicated individuals this morning around Pretoria and Kempton Park respectively”.
“The trio, which includes a former chief financial officer, former spokesperson and former case management director are said to have been instrumental in setting up the six-year contract which started during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the contract was in place they resigned and became directors of ZA Square Consulting which subcontracted to the main service provider. They reportedly stood to gain about R67 million through this deal.”
He said the OCJ reported the matter to the Hawks hence the search and seizure operation in order to obtain documentary and electronic evidence. The preferred charges would be that of fraud, corruption in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) and the contravention of the Cybercrime Act. No arrests have been made as yet as the investigation continues.