FORMER Limpopo MEC for health and social development Miriam Segabutla became the first casualty in an ongoing investigation into the fraud and corruption activities in the provincial government.
She was arrested by the Hawks in Pretoria yesterday morning and charged with fraud and corruption.
Segabutla was arrested together with a business associate, Pieter Erasmus. The third accused, Johnny Lucas, handed himself in to the Hawks after learning that they were on his heels.
The trio were released on R25000 bail each after making a brief appearance before magistrate Janine Ungerer in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court yesterday. They will appear again on July 5.
Segabutla, an ANC national executive committee member, is accused of defrauding the government while serving as MEC.
She, Lucas and Erasmus face charges of fraud and corruption following the irregular awarding of a forensic investigation tender to conduct an audit on the provincial health information system.
The tender was awarded on January 20 2010 without being advertised first.
Trispen Solutions and Tsepo Technologies were alleged to have been awarded the tender, despite them having come on board as volunteers.
Erasmus is a director at Trispen Solutions, while Lucas owns Tsepo Technologies. The two companies were paid more than R16-million after they were allegedly initially supposed to do the work for free.
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said more arrests were likely to follow.
He said charges were also likely to be added against Segabutla, Lucas and Erasmus.
The Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs, which has been in the forefront of fighting corruption, said yesterday it felt vindicated.
Secretary Siviko Mabunda said they had reason to claim victory since Segabutla had always maintained she was clean in this matter. - f rankm@sowetan.co.za
Ex-MEC, associates nabbed over R16m fraud
FORMER Limpopo MEC for health and social development Miriam Segabutla became the first casualty in an ongoing investigation into the fraud and corruption activities in the provincial government.
She was arrested by the Hawks in Pretoria yesterday morning and charged with fraud and corruption.
Segabutla was arrested together with a business associate, Pieter Erasmus. The third accused, Johnny Lucas, handed himself in to the Hawks after learning that they were on his heels.
The trio were released on R25000 bail each after making a brief appearance before magistrate Janine Ungerer in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court yesterday. They will appear again on July 5.
Segabutla, an ANC national executive committee member, is accused of defrauding the government while serving as MEC.
She, Lucas and Erasmus face charges of fraud and corruption following the irregular awarding of a forensic investigation tender to conduct an audit on the provincial health information system.
The tender was awarded on January 20 2010 without being advertised first.
Trispen Solutions and Tsepo Technologies were alleged to have been awarded the tender, despite them having come on board as volunteers.
Erasmus is a director at Trispen Solutions, while Lucas owns Tsepo Technologies. The two companies were paid more than R16-million after they were allegedly initially supposed to do the work for free.
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said more arrests were likely to follow.
He said charges were also likely to be added against Segabutla, Lucas and Erasmus.
The Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs, which has been in the forefront of fighting corruption, said yesterday it felt vindicated.
Secretary Siviko Mabunda said they had reason to claim victory since Segabutla had always maintained she was clean in this matter. - f rankm@sowetan.co.za