Tag Archives: money laundering

Seven Emfuleni Local Municipality employees appear in court

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

24 August 2026 – Seven Emfuleni Local Municipality employees briefly appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, theft amounting to R150 000, money laundering, and tampering with essential infrastructure. The accused are David Seneekal (31), Caroline Smangele Maduna (39), Kenneth Zongezile Mahobe (35), Hlawutelo Baloyi (29), Pule Meshack Masilo (36), Andries Bafana Maduna (48), and Sibusiso Patrick Tshabalala (46).

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that between February 2024 and June 2026, when the Emfuleni Local Municipality would disconnect electricity of businesses and individuals whose accounts were in arrears. Mahanjana said the accused would approach affected business owners and residents and offered to reconnect their electricity supply in exchange for payment.

“After receiving money from the complainants, they would allegedly unlawfully reconnect the electricity and manipulate records to reflect a reduced amount owed on the affected accounts. However, in the following months, the electrical account would show the initial amount owed as per their initial bill prior to being approached by the accused.

“Their electricity however would remain connected due to the illegal connection. The complainants reported the matter to the municipality. After internal investigations, the municipality reported the matter to the police and the seven accused were arrested on 21 August 2026,” she said.

Mahanjana further said the matter was postponed to 31 August 2026, for a formal bail application. She added that the accused are all remanded in custody.

“The NPA remains committed to prosecuting corruption, fraud, and crimes that undermine essential public infrastructure and service delivery. Such offences erode public trust and prejudice communities that rely on municipal services, and the NPA will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to hold those responsible accountable,” she said.

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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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