This is according to the Hawks’ Lloyd Ramovha, who told OFM News although the 53-year the municipal manager at Dihlabeng which is based in Bethlehem and Moqhaka in Kroonstad’s 51-year old municipal were arrested, they are yet to appear at the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court. 

This comes after the Hawks on Monday arrested two senior executives from the Maluti a Phofung and Dihlabeng Local Municipalities in the province on Monday also on charges related to fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.  

The pair, Mavis Mabula (46) and Solomon Nyembe (47  appeared briefly before the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on Monday and were released on R10 000 bail each and will reappear at the court on 13 June. OFM News’ Pulane Choane reports that in these latest arrests, Ramovha says these arrests also tie in with Nyembe and Mabula’s earlier arrests.

All the arrests the Hawks have made this week relate to alleged tender fraud related to a company known as Zero Tolerance, which was meant to provide protection and security services to the Dihlabeng Local Municipality in Bethlehem. 

"The company was later unduly appointed to render similar services at the Moqhaka Local Municipality. These services were allegedly procured without following the correct supply chain management processes in terms of Municipal Finance Management Act, which resulted in irregular appointments, unauthorized, wasteful and fruitless expenditure amounting to over R35 million," Ramovha said in a statement.

Ramovha says more arrests are expected as the task team continue with its interventions to rid Municipalities of maladministration, fraud, and corruption.

OFM News