The 2023 cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, stands as one of South Africa’s most devastating and unresolved public health crises. The tragedy claimed numerous lives and left a community in profound distress. While officials never confirmed the exact source, the failed R291 million Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant project has long been a primary suspect. Controversial businessman Edwin Sodi headed that project....Click to Read More >>➤
New investigative findings now suggest a different figure could be the missing link in this complex case. The late Rudolf Schoeman Jr may hold the key to understanding the events that led to the Hammanskraal disaster.
Uncovering a Web of Front Companies
Before his death, Rudolf Schoeman Jr served as the CEO of CMS Water Engineering. An investigation alleges his company secured millions in state contracts by using black individuals as fronts. This scheme was designed to comply with Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) regulations on paper only.
Schoeman Jr was found dead at his Bryanston mansion on March 6, 2023. Police officially listed the cause as natural. However, investigative journalist Susan Comrie reports that sources told her a different story. Employees who discovered his body noted lines of blood and slight swelling on his face. This discovery followed one of his lavish parties.
“Schoeman Junior died under mysterious circumstances. It was ruled as natural causes, but the family had questions and asked the police to investigate. So, there are still questions as to whether he died of natural causes or not,” Comrie stated.
During an interview on Kaya 959’s Point of View, Comrie revealed a critical detail. Although Edwin Sodi was the public face of the Rooiwal project, the contract allegedly fell under CMS Water Engineering. This arrangement potentially made Sodi “just a front” for the other company’s operations. This new information is crucial for understanding the Hammanskraal disaster.
The Trail of a Collapsed Company and a Public Health Crisis
Further digging into company records uncovered a pattern of obscured ownership. Between 2009 and 2012, most shares in CMS Water Engineering were transferred to Schoeman Sr’s son-in-law. This individual later admitted he was only a shareholder “on paper.” He had no actual role in the company’s daily operations or decision-making.
The investigation found that CMS Water Engineering left a devastating legacy across four provinces. The company’s track record included abandoned sewage plants, unpaid workers, dry taps, and severely polluted water systems. To win lucrative government tenders, CMS reportedly partnered with NJR Projects, Edwin Sodi’s civil engineering firm.
Today, CMS Water Engineering is under liquidation. Its collapse has left a trail of broken infrastructure, unpaid debts, and communities suffering the consequences. The unresolved issues at the Rooiwal plant, now linked to this network of companies, remain a focal point in the search for accountability for the Hammanskraal disaster.
The quest for answers in the Hammanskraal disaster continues as investigators piece together the roles of these interconnected companies and individuals. ...Click to Read More >>➤
