Five officials of the Eastern Cape health department were arrested in a pre-dawn raid by the Scorpions on Wednesday for allegedly defrauding the government of R12,5-million.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said the five had allegedly made false payments amounting to R12,5-million to Resmed Pharmaceuticals, a Durban-based medical supplier.
They also allegedly received kickbacks for their ”services”.
Ngwema said the five will soon appear in the Mdantsane Regional Court on charges of fraud, theft, money laundering and tax evasion.
Corrupt officials are frustrating the Eastern Cape government’s efforts to improve service delivery.
”They might have done it with impunity in the past, but they will not get away this time,” said Ngwema. — Sapa