By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Former Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality’s Technical Services Director has been served with a subpoena by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) to appear in court for alleged contravention of Section 171(3) read with Section 77 and 78 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said the suspect (44) allegedly single-handedly took on supply chain processes by sourcing quotations and invoices from service providers, then went further to recommend and approve payments for his office furniture back in 2014.
“The transaction was allegedly finalised in one day and approximately R504 143 was paid to the service provider. The suspect is expected to make his first court appearance on 20 November 2020 at the Christiana Magistrate’s Court,” Rikhotso said.
The Hawks continue to crack the whip in quest of combating corruption and the former Director is the fifth municipal official to be arrested in the province. In a related matter, the mayor of JB Marks municipality Kgotso Khumalo and the Director of municipal services and Local Economic Development (LED), Cyril Hendry appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft and fraud last week Friday after being arrested by the Hawks.
The duo was released on warning, while the third man facing eight charges of theft and fraud involving municipal funds handed himself over on Monday. In another incident, the former acting Municipal Manager at Ratlou Local Municipality, Cassius Sejake (55) was arrested by the Hawks for allegedly flouting tender processes to the value of R7.8 million between 2018 and 2019.
Sejake appeared at Atamelang Magistrate’s Court where he was granted R5000 bail. His case was postponed to November 27 and transferred to the Atamelang Regional Court.
Meanwhile, the acting mayor at Ratlou, Mamoitsadi Phaedi said: “As the municipality, we have noted the arrest and allegations leveled against Sejake and we do not support any acts of corruption, mismanagement, or abuse of the public funds and would like to urge all the parties involved in this matter to give the law enforcement agencies a chance to do their job whilst at the same time co-operating with the investigations.”
The Guardian 