Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation affectionately known as the Hawks has conducted a search and seizure operation at the department Social Development in Free State.
This was in relation to their investigation that started from procurement of 313 15 inch laptops.
At heart of it is the department sent out RFQs instead of one tender and its allege, once a call was made to a particular known to this indication to change specs, and instead of procuring 14 inch laptops the service provider was asked to provde 15 inches.
That was done without affording other companies opportunities to quote for 15 inches as required.
The laptops procured cost just over R8 000 each at Makro but Social Development settled for R17 000 per laptop.
It’s alleged two officials from ICT, the end user refused to sign the submission.
Christopher Songo, spokesperson for the Hawks in Free State confirmed the raid.
“We can confirm that on 26 September 2025, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) conducted a search and seizure operation at the Department of Social Development offices in Bloemfontein.
Documents were seized as part of an ongoing investigation.”
This is the second Hawks investigation in the department after R2.3 million went missing in 2020 and to date no one has been held accountable.
Khula Foundation CEO refused to account nor take the blame for the R2.3 million according to the minutes of the meeting held of the 3 December 2020 in possession of this publication.
She indicated they received instructions from officials of the Department to make payments of stipends to people who were not part of the list that they had.
Advocate Jacob Phahlo, former acting HOD said “they were busy instituting disciplinary processes in 2021”, yes 2021 and to date no one has been charged but the R2.3 million is gone.
This is developing story.
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