Limpopo: The Limpopo Serious Corruption Investigation unit of the Hawks has arrested a 40-year-old former Legal Manager at the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in connection with allegations of fraud and corruption. The suspect is expected to appear before the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 17 April 2026.

According to South African Government News Agency, the arrest on Thursday follows an investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation into alleged tender fraud and corruption within local municipalities. These investigations aim to dismantle suspected collusion between municipal officials and service providers, which were allegedly manipulating procurement processes for personal gain.

It is alleged that between 2016 and 2017, the suspect, while serving as Legal Manager, unlawfully facilitated the appointment of a service provider to supply software known as Ripjar to the municipal division ‘crime intelligence’. Further allegations suggest that the suspect knowingly approved the appointment despite the service provider not meeting the prescribed requirements in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), thereby allegedly compromising procurement processes, as stated by the police.

According to the police, the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality is reported to have suffered financial prejudice of approximately R686 000.