South African Police Service (SAPS) members were among 15 people making their first appearance in the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court court on Tuesday (8 February) in connection with corruption at SAPS linked to the acquisition of PPE worth R1.9m. Six are former police officers, two are currently serving as police officers, and one is an administrative clerk. The rest of the accused are civilians linked to the supplier.
They were arrested in Gauteng and Limpopo on Monday by a task team appointed by the national police commissioner and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Investigating Directorate, reports EWN.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said they had been charged with fraud, theft, corruption and forgery arising from a scheme to unlawfully benefit a third-party supplier of latex gloves for the SAPS nationally in April 2020.
“The arrests flow from a wide-ranging investigation into procurement and supply chain management at SAPS. The investigation has uncovered the award of numerous contracts for the benefit of third-party front companies, which in turn facilitate kickbacks to senior SAPS officials.” Mathe said more arrests emanating from police corruption could be expected.
EWN article – 15 suspects linked to corrupt R2m SAPS PPE tender due in court (Open access)
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