AT LEAST seven people were arrested this week in connection with fraud and corruption relating to tenders that were allegedly irregularly awarded in the Limpopo government.

As the sting operation by the Hawks continued in the province on Tuesday and yesterday, the crime busting unit said more arrests were imminent. Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said yesterday they had completed their investigations.

"The Hawks will make more arrests in Limpopo in the next few days," he said.

Ramaloko would only confirm that one of the seven people arrested was an official of the provincial department of public works.

Sowetan has, however, learnt that another is an official in the department of roads and transport in the province, Makgomo Kgosana.

Kgosana was arreste d in her office on Tuesday and spent the night in the police cells. She was released on R10,000 bail when she appeared in court yesterday and the matter was postponed to January 29 next year.

Kgosana was charged with fraud, theft and corruption in relation to a tender awarded to On-Point Engineering, in which expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's family trust is a shareholder.

The company had unlawfully won the tender worth R52-million according to a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

Malema, company chief executive Lesiba Gwangwa, and four other business associates will be appearing in court tomorrow.

Limpopo police said yesterday security would be tight during the court appearance.

"We will monitor and patrol the area in and around the court, as well as the city centre and identified areas in Seshego," said police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

- frankm@sowetan.co.za