Tag Archives: facing charges of fraud.

Former Municipal Manager and co-accused in court for alleged money laundering, corruption and fraud

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

18 March 2025- The accused, Patrick Pogisho Shikwane (53), Leslina Olga Ndlovu (45), the former Chief Financial Officer of Bojanala District Municipality, Patrick Tlhapi (53), the Bojanala District Municipality Chief Whip, Gontse Kekana (39), the Secretary to the Former Municipal Manager, and Mantsho Gloria Moremi (38), the service provider, briefly appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on 18 March 2025, facing charges of fraud, money laundering, corruption and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North west, Sivenathi Gunya said the accused were arrested on 17 March 2025, by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, Serious Corruption Investigation, and the Hawks’ Head Office Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS). Gunya said their arrests follow an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation into allegations of defrauding the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality of over R25 million between December 2018 and May 2019.

“It is alleged that in 2018, Ndlovu colluded with a service provider, who is still at large, to have her company, which was not on the database of the municipality’s service providers, to claim payments for services rendered to the municipality. The CFO and the service provider allegedly used details of a registered service provider to claim for payments.

“However, the payments were paid into a bank account that was not on the municipality’s database. Investigation revealed that funds, amounting to over R2 million, were transferred from the service provider’s bank account into the bank account of the CFO’s company,” he said.

He further said it was established that R150 000 was transferred from the service provider’s bank account into the personal bank account of the Chief Whip. Gunya alleged that the Secretary to the former Municipal Manager, reportedly benefitted R850 000 from the funds.

“Shikwane faces 53 counts of fraud, 53 counts of money laundering and one count of contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Ndlovu faces 53 counts of fraud, 53 counts of money laundering and five counts of corruption.

“Tlhapi faces one count of corruption, while Kekana faces two counts of corruption; and Moremi faces one count of money laundering. The matter has been postponed to 20 March 2025, for formal bail application. The arrest of two other service providers is imminent,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have applauded collaborative work between the Hawks and NPA in ensuring that the accused are brought to book.

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The City of Matlosana CFO, Mercy Phetla and co-accused nabbed for fraud 

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Picture: The CFO of City of Matlosana, Mercy Phetla

By REGINALD KANYANE 

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the City of Matlosana, Mercy Phetla (38), the acting Store Controller, Mmatebesi Josephine Sekhejane (42), and the Director of Variegated Pty (Ltd) company, Tiisetso Sebetlele (33), briefly appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on 19 August 2024, facing charges of fraud. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the trio was arrested on Monday morning by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit, following an investigation into allegations of procurement irregularities. 

“It is alleged that in January 2024, the municipality paid a service provider an amount of R2.9 million for electrical materials, which were never delivered. The accused have appeared in court on a charge of fraud and were granted bail. 

“Phetla was granted a R35 000 bail, Sekhejane R5000 and Sebetlele was granted R20 000 bail. The court has ordered that the accused report at their nearest police stations once a week and that they must not be in contact with the State’s witnesses. Their case was postponed to 12 November 2024, for further investigation,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari have welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the accused. They have vowed that the Hawks and NPA will continue working together to fight malfeasance in public institutions. 

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Former Head of Department at North West Department of Health, Dr Thabo Lekalakala and co-accused back in court

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Picture: The former Head of Department (HOD) at North West Department of Health, Dr Thabo Lekalakala

By OBAKENG MAJE 

The Director at the North West Department of Health, Ntelaleng Matlapeng (59) and the former Director of the North West Department of Health, Elliot Motene (49), briefly appeared in the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 28 May 2024, facing charges of fraud. 

Matlapeng and Motene were arrested on 28 May 2024, by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team. 

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Matlapeng and Motene’s arrests emanate from an investigation into tender irregularities between 2008 and 2009, when the North West Provincial Government (NWPG), sought to build two hospitals in Moses Kotane Hospital IN Ledig and Joe Morolog Memorial Hospital in Vryburg. 

“Investigation revealed that the accused certified payment vouchers for exchange rates of R75 million when the contract and specifications did not allow the exchange rates to be claimed. 

“Matlapeng faces one count of fraud, while Motene faces two counts of fraud. The accused were released on R5000 bail and their case was postponed to 30 May 2024, where they will appear alongside the other five accused,” he said. 

Mathebula further said former Head of Department (HOD) at the North West Department of Health, Dr Andrew Lekalakala (58), is facing charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and two of fraud. He added that the former North West Provincial Government Director-General (DG), Dr Lydia Sebego (63), who is also the former Head of the Department (HOD) at the North West Department of Health, facing two charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act. 

“The Chief Director at the North West Department of Health, Vuyo Mbulawa (54), is charged with ten counts of fraud, while Roulph Lotwane Mabe (68), who is a service provider, is facing six counts of fraud. Joseph Leshabane (61), who is also a service provider, is facing six charges of fraud.  

“The charges against the two former heads of the department related to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that were signed between the two companies and their directors on services that needed to be rendered to the two hospitals,” said Mathebula.

He said the services were, however, not rendered, while these companies allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices, which were paid by the department after being authorised by Mbulawa. Mathebula said this allegedly led to a loss of over R86 million to the department paid to Mabe’s company, and over R49 million was paid to Leshabane’s company. 

“The state’s evidence further reveals that the two HODs signed the SLAs, while they knew that the two companies were not compliant and did not meet the requirements,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the additional arrests.

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