PIETERMARITZBURG - The arrest of KwaZulu-Natal prisons head Mnikelwa Nxele follows years of sustained investigations, according to Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale.
"It is the result of work that the departmental investigations unit started before I even became national commissioner," Thobakgale said.
"This flows from investigations into Bosasa, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) proclamation on procurement in KZN, and contemporary issues that emerged during my current term."
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Nxele was arrested on Tuesday by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption on charges of fraud and money laundering.
He is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday.
The provincial prisons boss was placed on precautionary suspension in May last year following allegations of corruption linked to procurement processes within the Department of Correctional Services.
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He was previously implicated in state capture testimony by former Bosasa executive Angelo Agrizzi, who alleged Nxele received around R50,000 a month in bribes from the facilities management company.
Thobakgale also revealed that Nxele allegedly attempted to interfere in one of the internal probes into his conduct, a matter now forming part of internal disciplinary processes.
Nxele has recently made counter-allegations of irregularities and inflated food procurement prices within the department.
However, Thobakgale dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated.