The Regional Manager of Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority in Mpumalanga (MERSETA) was arrested for corruption.
The 34-year-old regional manager is responsible for facilitating skills development and training within specific industrial areas. The institution does not provide training but rather facilitates the program by funding, registering providers, and ensuring the quality of training to address industrial needs.
The Regional Manager took advantage of his responsibilities and demanded gratification from service provider was found with R40 000 in cash that was paid by one of the service providers in Malalane.
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According to information, the suspect would extort between 20 and 30 percent from the service providers’ benefits and threatened to intentionally delay payments which will make it difficult for the training institution to operate should they refuse to pay that percentage.
The matter was reported to the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation to conduct further investigation. On Saturday, 13 September 2025, the team from Serious Corruption Investigation and Local Criminal Record Center operationalised the information. The manager was cornered after receiving R40 000 from the service provider, and all the money was recovered.
The suspect is expected to appear before Tonga Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 15, 2025.
