By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
30 April 2025- Former Municipal Manager at the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, Advocate Abbey Dlavane (61), was on 25 April 2025, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for theft and contravention of Section 173 (1)(a) of Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) by the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court.
This comes after Dlavane, who was employed as the Municipal Manager for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality between January 2009 and March 2010, allegedly instructed the credit controller to issue a cheque amounting to R550 000 to Kumekucha Investment for services not rendered to the municipality.
The matter was reported to the Klerksdorp-Based Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further handling. The investigation revealed that Dlavane was the sole member of Kumekucha Investment.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Sivenathi Gunya said it was further established that the accused failed to follow proper Municipal Supply Chain Management policy processes as he authorized such payment without implementing a competitive bidding process resulting in the municipality suffering a loss worth R550 000. Gunya said following a series of court appearances, the accused was found guilty on one count of theft and one count of Contravention of Section 173 of MFMA.
“Dlavane was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on charges of theft and 3 years imprisonment on charges of Contravention of Section 173 (MFMA), which was wholly suspended for 5 years,” he said.
The acting North West Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Georgia Moos and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentence. They lauded the investigation and prosecution team for their relentless efforts in fighting corruption in the municipalities as they said this will serve as a stern warning to public servants to serve with integrity and accountability.
Meanwhile, the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West described a sentencing as a victory against fraud and corruption. The Convenor of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) North West Interim Committee, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, commended the Hawks Serious and Commercial Crime Investigation Directorate and the National Prosecution Agency for the successful prosecution and called for the asset forfeiture processes to follow in order to recoup the money lost to the municipality.
“This should serve as a deterrent to send an unequivocal message that officials that are entrusted with public resources will be held responsible for succumbing to greed and corruption as their actions are a betrayal of the trust of communities that are yearning for improved service delivery.
“The roll-out of the Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative (LGELI) Code adopted after MRM’s extensive engagement with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (SALGA), South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Ethics Institute and the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) will contribute towards strengthening the Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy,” said Kgwele.
He further said the municipalities will only reposition themselves for effective service delivery, as well as prudent financial management if they adopt zero tolerance to corruption, rid themselves of unscrupulous individuals, promote ethical leadership as well as good governance and accountability. Kgwele added that the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that MRM had recently signed with SALGA during its Annual Assembly held in Limpopo, will bring civil society on board as regards strengthening partnership with municipalities to intensify the fight against corruption and building values driven communities.
The Guardian 