The Hawk’s Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) based in Welkom has arrested and charged a 26-year-old suspect for corruption on Monday, 02 February 2026.
The apprehension comes after the Welkom SCI received information about alleged corruption involving a Plant Manager at the Bloemhoedskraal Solar Plant in Virginia, on 28 January 2026.
During the arrest, two Samsung cellphones and cash amounting to R10 000.00 were confiscated.
The suspect is alleged to have extorted monthly cash payments of R10 000 from a sub-contractor over four months, threatening to remove the contractor’s machinery if payments were not made, with a total amount of R50 000 involved.
“Preliminary investigations by the Project Manager revealed additional alleged victims subjected to similar extortion, as well as that the suspect had recently bought a second-hand vehicle for R130 000 in cash.
“The matter was reported to Welkom SCI for further investigation, and an undercover operation in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act was authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on 30 January 2026.”
The suspect is expected to appear before Virginia Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 to face charges of corruption.
