Polokwane Mayor John Mpe Rushes to Court to Block Hawks’ R724m Tender Probe
Mayor Mpe briefing the media. (Polokwane Municipality)
by Mathipa Phishego
Polokwane Executive Mayor John Mpe has filed an urgent application in the Polokwane High Court in a bid to stop the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) from accessing sensitive municipal documents.
The move adds a new twist to Limpopo’s latest high-profile corruption scandal, which has rocked provincial politics.
The urgent application follows a dramatic Hawks raid on Polokwane municipal offices on 17 September 2025, conducted under a High Court order. News24 reported that investigators seized key records linked to allegations of fraud, money laundering, and tender irregularities involving contracts worth more than R724 million.
According to whistleblower documents circulating since July, at least 28 municipal contracts awarded between 2022 and 2023 are under investigation. These contracts were allegedly funneled to companies connected to Mayor Mpe, Municipal Manager Thuso Nemugumoni, and close associates.
Allegations further claim that some of the funds were laundered through Mpe’s non-profit organisation “Makoro Foundation,” allegedly used as a vehicle for kickbacks. Representing the Mayor, lawyer Kgabo Maponya argued that the Hawks’ investigators had flouted proper procedures in their information gathering.
Maponya stressed that his client believe the lead investigators were overreaching in their approach. “This was not a targeted investigation but an invasion of the mayor’s office,” said Maponya.
The urgent application seeks to challenge the validity of the raid and prevent investigators from using seized municipal documents as part of their corruption probe.
Mayor Mpe has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Dismissing the allegations as part of a political smear campaign. He suggested that rivals within the ANC and opposition parties were behind the scandal.
The Mayor told reporters that his hands are clean. “This is nothing more than a smear campaign driven by political opponents who fear my leadership,” he said.
This case has amplified concerns over governance and accountability in Limpopo, where municipalities have faced repeated criticism for irregular expenditure and questionable procurement practices. The unfolding court battle will test both the independence of the Hawks and the resilience of municipal governance in the province.
Polokwane’s leadership is embroiled in legal battles and corruption allegations, residents and ratepayers remain deeply concerned about service delivery failures linked to alleged mismanagement of public funds.
High Court is expected to hear the mayor’s urgent application in the coming days. Should the court rule in Mpe’s favour, the Hawks may be forced to halt or reconfigure their investigation, potentially delaying accountability efforts.
However, if the Hawks’ search-and-seizure operation is upheld as lawful, investigators will be free to proceed with their corruption probe into Polokwane’s multi-million-rand tenders.
The R724 million corruption saga leaves the city of Polokwane under a cloud of suspicion, with both its leadership and service delivery credibility hanging in the balance.