This follows after Mqwathi appeared at the court yesterday following his earlier appearance in June, where he was granted R100 000 bail by the court. According to the NPA’s provincial spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, the case has been postponed for further investigations and the determination of a forum for a trial. The accused is one of five suspects who have been arrested about a tender that was awarded to Zero Tolerance, which the Hawks believe was fraudulently awarded at two municipalities in the province, the other being the Dihlabeng Local Municipality.

Meanwhile, Mqwathi has been placed on precautionary suspension in light of his bail condition, which states that he must have no direct or indirect contact with any of the employees at the Municipality where he, prior to his arrest, worked as the Municipal Manager. Other conditions of his bail state that he attends the court proceedings until the case is finalised. He is also ordered to have no contact and interference with state witnesses. Meanwhile, the municipality has since found someone else to act in Mqwathi’s position.

Mqwathi was arrested on 30 May after he was meant to hand himself over to the local Kroonstad police a week earlier. Instead of handing himself over to the police as he told the Hawks in the province he would, Mqwathi instead went on the run. While he was a fugitive, Mqwathi posted a cryptic video on the social media platform, Twitter, gaining him the title of “Kroonstad’s Runaway MM” among many that saw the video.

Meanwhile, the Moqhaka Local Municipality’s current acting Municipal Manager, as well the Executive Mayor, are yet to make a decision on what will happen to Mqwathi in terms of his employment.

OFM News