South Africa arrests 41 in R114M tender fraud case tied to fake school contracts, with a former official among suspects.

South Africa’s Hawks arrested 41 suspects, including a former senior Mpumalanga education official, in a probe into an alleged R114 million tender fraud dating back to 2018. The operation targeted a network involving government officials, businesspeople, and a pastor linked to fraudulent school maintenance contracts. Raids occurred across multiple provinces, with suspects expected to appear in Nelspruit court. The investigation, part of a broader SIU effort authorized by President Ramaphosa, examines procurement irregularities from 2012 to early 2025, including claims of unnecessary contracts and collusion.