A head of department at the Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has been arrested in connection with a R6-million personal protective equipment (PPE) scandal.

Samkelo Ngubane, 50, a deputy director and head of department at Cogta, appeared in the Mbombela Magistrate's Court on Monday. Ngubane joins his co-accused and Cogta deputy director Raymond Manzini, 45; his brother, Chris Manzini, 33; and a director of the Zalabantu Estate Trust Moses Ndlovu, 61, in the matter.

A Hawks team arrested Ngubane in Mbombela on Monday, said Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase.

Ndlovu's arrest came after an intensive Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into the Cogta department. The probe revealed that Zalabantu Estate Trust was solely requested to quote for the supply and delivery of PPE in March 2020, said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

"However, after the PPE contract was awarded, Ndlovu approached Chris Manzini to take over the purchase without the approval of the department. The SIU investigation further revealed that Chris Manzini approached his brother, Raymond Manzini, who is a government official, to provide funding for the purchase and delivery of PPE," said Kganyago.

Raymond Manzini allegedly purchased PPE items from companies that were registered to do business with government and resold the items to the department at inflated prices, he said.

"[The company] handed an invoice to Raymond Manzini, the financial provider, for the department to effect payment. Immediately after payment was received, a significant sum of money was transferred to Raymond Manzini's bank account," he said.

Ngubane was released on R10 000 bail. His three co-accused were granted R15 000 bail each.

The case was postponed to 28 July.