Hawks Arrest Five in Multi-Billion Rand Fossil Fuel Corruption Probe
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation has made arrests linked to irregular procurement contracts at PetroSA.
The Hawks have arrested five individuals, including a former PetroSA board member and two intermediaries, in connection with alleged corruption in the procurement of feedstock for the state oil company's Mossel Bay refinery.
The arrests follow a two-year investigation into contracts worth R3.2 billion awarded between 2019 and 2023. Prosecutors allege that bribes totaling R180 million were paid to secure preferential treatment for specific suppliers.
The National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate has secured preservation orders on assets including luxury properties in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and bank accounts in Dubai.