Hawks arrest three over R16 million Blouberg security tender
The three suspects, aged between 37 and 57, are set to appear in the Senwabarwana Magistrate's Court on Friday, and the security company linked to the tender has also been charged.
Three suspects, aged between 37 and 57, have been arrested in Polokwane in connection with allegations of fraud and corruption relating to a security tender valued at approximately R16 million at the Blouberg Local Municipality, the South African Police Service says.
The arrests were carried out by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation, with the assistance of members from the Polokwane Tactical Response Team. The security company linked to the investigation has also been charged.
The investigation began in 2024 after complaints were lodged with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation about alleged irregularities in the awarding of the security tender by the municipality.
It is alleged that the company ultimately awarded the tender did not meet certain mandatory requirements stipulated in the tender specifications. Among those requirements was possession of a specified number of firearms.
Complainants who had also submitted bids for the tender raised concerns that the successful bidder allegedly did not meet that requirement.
According to the police statement, the investigation revealed allegations that the company submitted firearm details and certified documents that were not genuine. The Hawks allegedly established that firearm serial numbers submitted as part of the tender documentation were linked to firearms belonging to other security companies.
Investigators also allegedly established that certain certificates included in the company’s profile were fraudulent, and that some certification stamps appearing on documents submitted as part of the tender were allegedly fraudulent.
Following the investigation, the docket was submitted to the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crime Unit for a decision. Warrants of arrest were subsequently authorised, leading to the arrests on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
The suspects face allegations of fraud and corruption and are expected to make their first appearance before the Senwabarwana Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 25 September 2026.
The Provincial Head of the DPCI in Limpopo, Major General Adv Gops Govender, commended the investigating team for its diligent work and continued efforts to investigate allegations of corruption involving public procurement.
This report is based on the SAPS media statement, which summarises the investigation rather than reproducing the underlying docket. Source: South African Police Service (SAPS), “Three suspects arrested in R16 million Blouberg Municipality security tender investigation”, https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=71399
