Picture: The accused persons in a fraud case/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
The company Directors and former Rustenburg Local Municipality employees, Mpho Alistair Lesolle (41), Johannes Botes Rossouw (58), Piter Retief Von Willigh (58), Ntlhayakgosi Michael Mokgwamme (66) and Merika Johannes Madungandaba (66), briefly appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on 17 July 2024, facing charges of fraud.
Rossouw, von Willigh, and Madungandaba, are Directors of Malesela T&D Pty (Ltd), a company that allegedly had a contract with the Rustenburg Local Municipality in 2013 to install a switchgear for the Ikemeleng Bulk Infrastructure. Lesolle and Mokgwamme are former employees of the municipality and were reportedly charged with the responsibility of overseeing the project and ensuring that the switchgear is delivered.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said the reports indicated that, in September 2013, the municipality paid Malesela’s company over R2 million to install a switchgear as per the contract arrangement. Mathebula said investigation revealed that the company did not render any service.
“Following an investigation, the accused were served with summons between June and July 2024, to appear in court. All five accused made a brief appearance in court and were released on warning. Their matter was postponed to 21 August 2024,” he said.
The Guardian 