PRETORIA– Four senior officials from the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) were arrested by the Kimberley based Serious Corruption Investigation team of the Hawks.

The team executed (J50) warrants of arrest early this morning. The suspects aged between 47 and 66 are expected to appear before Kimberly Magistrate’s Court soon after their arrest to face charges of fraud, contravening the diamonds Act and Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

These charges stem from the donor funding surpassing R6.7 million received from the European Union during the 2010/2011 financial year. The funds were intended for training students in cutting and polishing uncut (unpolished) diamonds.

The diamonds were bought in March 2011 from a private entity without the necessary licences to buy rough diamonds, consequently these diamonds were stored at the premises of the same private entity.

A total of forty students were enrolled in the same year, to undergo a mining qualification course in cutting and polishing of diamonds facilitated by Kimberley Diamonds International Jewellery Academy (KIDJA).

It was established that the diamonds were missing and unaccounted for in July 2012, this was uncovered during the random inspection by the Auditor General.

The Hawks Investigation into the diamonds saga resulted in the arrest of four senior officials from the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Source: South African Police Service