The 51-year-old man and the 22-year-old woman, who is also the director of her own company, were arrested in Port Shepstone and Shelly Beach on Tuesday by the East London Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Team.

It's alleged the two businesses, hoping to win a PPE tender, submitted fraudulent lease agreements to the Eastern Cape Education Department claiming to have offices in that province. 

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One of the criteria for the contract was that bidders had to be aspiring business people based in the Eastern Cape.

Officials say due to the pair's misrepresentation, the two companies were awarded a PPE tender and subsequently defrauded the department of more than R4.3 million.  

The duo also faces charges of forgery and uttering.