By REGINALD KANYANE
The Director of Tiro Attorneys (PTY) LTD, Thouret Mampe Thabe Tiro (41), and the then acting Director of Corporate Services at Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Tsietsi Isaac Shema (54), briefly appeared in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 5 September 2024, facing charges of fraud. The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel, Tinyiko Mathebula said the accused were arrested earlier on Thursday in Lichtenburg by members of the Mahikeng-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.
Mathebula said their arrest follows an investigation into allegations of fraud relating to the procurement of legal practitioner’s services for the municipality.
“In May 2021, Tiro allegedly submitted a request for payment to the municipality for legal services he had rendered. It was revealed during the investigation that Tiro Attorneys did not render any services and that Shema and another suspect, who is still at large, allegedly approved the request for payment.
“As a result, the municipality suffered a loss of over R460 000 for services that were never rendered. The pair has appeared in court facing four counts of fraud and an alternative theft charge. They have been remanded in custody and their matter was postponed to 6 September 2024, for formal bail application,” 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 (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the accused. They have assured the public that the Hawks and NPA will not hesitate to act against public officials who are involved in fraud and corrupt activities.
The Guardian 