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By OBAKENG MAJE
Former Mahikeng Local Municipal Manager, Thabo Mokwena briefly appeared at Mmabatho Regional Court on 11 August 2021 facing charges of contravention of the MFMA, Prevention and combatting of Corrupt Activities Act. Mokwena was arrested by The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit on Tuesday in Klerksdorp for allegedly invested R92million of taxpayers’ money into the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

He was granted R50 000 bail and the case was postponed to 16 November 2021.

The Hawks spokesperson, Col Katlego Mogale said the arrest of Mokwena (59) is part of their ongoing fight against corruption and maladministration.

“The suspect is reported to have taken part in the looting of VBS Mutual Bank through investing of the Mahikeng Local Municipality funds. Investigation revealed that R92 million of the taxpayers was invested into VBS in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).  

“The suspect alleged to have received gratification in the form of credit facilities for purchases of two high-powered vehicles and a property in Klerksdorp amounting to over R1.7 million between 2017 and 2018,” Mogale said.

Mahikeng Local Municipality is one of the 20 municipalities that had invested municipal funds into VBS. According to information, out of R92million that was unduly invested into the VBS Mutual Bank, only R7million was paid back to the municipality.

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya said: “As indicated previously, all those who participated in that illegal scheme which resulted in the loss of taxpayers’ monies into VBS matters will be held to account.

Meanwhile, North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile welcomed the arrest of a Mokwena.

Cwaile said although they welcome the arrest of the first suspect in the VBS saga in the province, he hopes that many others who failed their fiduciary duty would be asked by courts to explain themselves and account for their deeds.

“This is necessary as municipal councils are failing to hold managers accountable including those who fail to honour statutory obligations like payments to SARS and pensions of workers.

“I warned against reckless usage and abuse of state resources and all those who ignored faculty of the regulatory framework in public service should be dealt with,” he said.

Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson on COGHSTA, Freddy Sonakile said: “The DA will be waiting with much anticipation to see the third set of arrests that the Hawks had promised to be of high-profile political leaders behind the VBS saga.

“We will closely monitor developments to ensure that even those North West municipal officials suspected of involvement, who resigned and took up positions in other provinces, will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Sonakile further said the VBS scandal proves that the ANC has no qualms about the abuse of public funds and even went as far as participating in a scheme that stole from the poor.   He said the North West municipalities have completely collapsed under the ANC government.
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