Seven people, including a former Free State education official, appeared on racketeering, money laundering and fraud charges in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Teboho Lioma, a former senior education official from Bloemfontein, Isaac Soee, Virginia Moseisa, Motseke Mphuti and Maria Letsela, all from Phuthaditjhaba, Masopha Lekitlene from Welkom, and Ntsikelelo Majola from Bloemfontein appeared in court.
The investigation relates to alleged unlawful practices involving tenders in the Free State education department worth about R30 million.
The seven received bail of R1000 each and the matter was postponed to June 11, 2012. They all face charges of racketeering, while some face further charges including money laundering and fraud.
State prosecutor Johan Swanepoel told the court the State handed a list of witnesses to the defence counsel, which the accused were not to make contact with as part of their bail conditions.
A total of 15 people had been warned to be at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, but only the seven appeared.
The State indicated the rest would receive warrants to appear in court.
The seven were formally arrested before their appearance. – Sapa