Key Points
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Authorities arrested six more suspects in the Northern Cape hospital corruption case.
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Investigators uncovered fraud, inflated costs, and illegal payments.
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The accused will appear in court again on June 2.
On Wednesday, law enforcement made six new arrests in connection with the Northern Cape hospital corruption case. The suspects briefly appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court.
This group includes former senior officials and private consultants. Among them are Motlalepule Elia Selemela, who previously headed the Department of Roads, Transport and Public Works, and Ruth Palm, who once served as acting head.
Additionally, authorities arrested former Babereki Consulting directors—Lorencia Crause, Louis Adriaab Van Niekerk, Edward Charles Petzer, and Moyahi Winston Modisa.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team carried out the arrests. They executed J50 warrants in both Kimberley and Cape Town.
Investigators expose fraud and unlawful contract deals
Authorities charged the suspects with fraud, corruption, money laundering, and violating the Public Finance Management Act. These charges stem from a hospital project that started in 2005.
According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe, Selemela unlawfully awarded a construction contract in August 2005. The project was supposed to begin a month later. However, it quickly ran into trouble.
Later, acting HOD Ruth Palm approved a separate R36 million contract without following legal procedures. Originally, the mental hospital project carried a R297 million budget.
But delays, poor workmanship, and repeated contractor changes caused the cost to skyrocket. The final amount exceeded R1 billion.
Furthermore, investigators discovered that Babereki Consulting received R51 million from the department. Shockingly, there was no valid contract to justify the payment.
Suspects out on bail ahead of June court appearance
Authorities released all six suspects on bail. Bail amounts ranged between R2,000 and R10,000.
The suspects are scheduled to return to the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on June 2. There, they will join other accused individuals already facing charges in the main corruption case.
Public pressure continues to grow. Citizens are demanding greater oversight of government projects. Moreover, experts are calling for stricter enforcement of financial regulations.
As the Northern Cape hospital corruption case unfolds, it exposes deep flaws in public procurement and financial accountability. The coming weeks are likely to bring more revelations and heightened public scrutiny.
