This week our story took place in Mpumalanga, in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. Disciplinary action was taken against a Senior Construction Project Management director after he appeared in court, last month, on 24 February 2026. The director was arrested along with 37 others who are suspected to be allegedly involved in a R114 million schools tender fraud.
The accused included senior government officials, service providers, tertiary students and two pastors.
The tender was established during 2018 and 2019 as an emergency intervention to repair 21 schools in Mpumalanga.
Minister Dean Macpherson stated “Any official implicated in serious criminal allegations, particularly those involving public funds meant for critical infrastructure such as schools, ought not remain in their role while these processes are under way.”
It is alleged that certain service providers were delivering substandard services and that some services were paid for that were not performed. Allegedly, in some instances, some service providers were paid more than once for the same service.
The funds that were allegedly siphoned from the department was reportedly funnelled through various channels in order to get to the government officials.
All 38 accused will be appearing next week, 26 March, Thursday.
Minister Dean Macpherson stated “There will be no protection for wrongdoing. We owe it to the people of South Africa to act decisively against corruption wherever it arises. Every rand lost to fraud is a rand taken away from classrooms, communities and service delivery.”
With regards to bail, two students and a wheelchair bound accused were granted R5 000 bail. Three of the accused were granted R20 000 bail each, one accused was granted R30 000 bail and the remaining 31 accused were granted R50 000 bail each.
DISCLAIMER! This content is for educational and informational purposes based on publicly available information.