News24 reports that 12 Mnquma Municipality officials have been accused of fraud and corruption after allegedly flouting tender processes, the Hawks in the Eastern Cape have said.  

The 12, who formed the municipality's bid evaluation and adjudication committees, appeared before the Butterworth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of fraud, corruption and the contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).  They were arrested on Tuesday, Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson Captain Anelisa Feni advised.  Their arrest came in the wake of ongoing investigations regarding alleged fraud and corruption in Eastern Cape municipalities.  Feni said the 12 flouted tender procedures from 2014 to 2016, when four tenders with a combined value of R37m were allegedly unduly awarded to three companies.  The court released the suspects on a warning and they will appear again on 25 May 2018.

• Read this report by Kaveel Singh in full at News24

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