Scorpions sting Mangaung HQ
2005-06-23 19:44
Bloemfontein - The Mangaung local municipality's head office here was closed for the day on Thursday when the Scorpions unit seized the Bram Fischer building in terms of a search warrant.
Scorpions Free State head Lebo Mdalana said the raid was part of an investigation into fraud and corruption relating to tenders by high-ranking municipal officials.
She said the search started on Thursday morning at the houses of six officials.
No indication was given about who the officials were nor which tenders being investigated.
Mdalana said they were not expected to make any arrests on Thursday.
Acting city manager Kopung Ralikontsane confirmed that national prosecuting authority officials had spent the day searching and seizing "certain information and documents".
Scorpions action welcomed
"The particulars and details of the exercise are at this stage not known to the municipality."
He indicated however that normal activities should resume at the Bram Fischer building on Friday.
Free State opposition parties have welcomed the Scorpions action.
Democratic Alliance leader Andries Botha said his party recently asked the auditor-general to investigate tender transactions, and also asked the public protector to look into the property transactions of the municipality.
- SAPA