FIVE Harry Gwala municipal officials from Ixopo, southern KZN, and five company owners have been arrested for fraud and corruption.
The 10 suspects were arrested on Tuesday morning and appeared in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court in the afternoon.
The court heard that Vuyokazi Mfenqe, a director of revenue, masterminded the whole thing.
Prosecutor Mlungisi Magwanyana said Mfenqe and other four officials under her invited companies to submit tender bids when there was no tender advertised by the municipality.
Magwanyana said it was clear that the intention was to steal because there was no work at all to be done. The court also heard that the companies which tendered were paid R1,3 million between 2016 and 2017 for job that was not done.
After the payment was allegedly approved by Mfenqe the money was shared among all the suspects.
Mfenqe allegedly pocketed
R250 000 from the deal.
The state did not oppose bail and magistrate Judy Naidoo released all the suspects.
The case was postponed to 9 November.
Harry Gwala spokesman Ndabezitha Tenza said the municipality was determined to deal with corruption in the area.
