By OBAKENG MAJE
A fraud and theft case against the controversial former JB Marks Local Municipality mayor, Kgotso Khumalo and the other two employees have been postponed to 7 July 2021 by the North West High Court sitting in Venterdorp on Thursday.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the case was postponed to give both parties more time to prepare for a pre-trial conference.
“The state is expected to put on record its readiness to proceed with the trial and also highlight issues that are in dispute with the defence representatives. Khumalo together with Cecil Henry and Mohau Shuping, are facing eight charges of theft and fraud from the municipality funds.
“It is alleged that the North West University and the Programme for Community Development paid about R5 million into a trust account of an attorney for the use of specific projects by the municipality,” Mamothame said.
He further said the attorney was given instructions to effect various payments, which includes a R208 000 mayoral committee contribution towards the funeral of the former North West MEC for Agriculture, Duma Ndleleni, who passed away on 23 November 2018.
According to Mamothame, however, it was discovered that R200 000 was paid directly into the account of one of the accused.
“From this amount, R64 218 was paid to an institution where Khumalo’s relative was a student. It is alleged that false invoices were generated to effect more fictitious payments too.
“Furthermore, Khumalo allegedly instructed the attorney to make payment to an NGO which did not exist. The three are still out on warning and are prohibited from contacting state witnesses,” he said.
Khumalo resigned as a mayor as per the ANC National Executive Committee instruction that all its members who are accused of criminal activities or serious crimes to step aside.
The Guardian 
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