Katong who is an ANC councillor in the Joe Morolong Municipality is facing five counts of corruption along with her 30-year-old son, Boineelo Lennox Katong. The charges stem from a construction tender which is estimated to be around R286 000.

Both Katong and her son are out on a bail of  R2000 each.

ANC Provincial Secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, says the ANC resolved that the organisation should suspend councillors who fail to give an acceptable explanation as to why they should not be suspended while facing charges.

Katong's suspension follows after ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, penned a letter to ANC members and stated that the party should publicly disassociate itself from anyone - whether they are a business donor, supporter or a member, accused of corruption or reported to be involved in corruption.

"It is in this light that the PEC has resolved to request Councillor Julia Katong to step aside and clear her name in a court of law. Councillor Katong was arrested on charges of fraud and corruption, " Ngxanga adds.

Meanwhile, the Hawks provincial spokesperson, Nomthandazo Mnisi, previously told OFM News that it is alleged that between April and September 2019, Katong demanded payments in a form of gratification from a subcontractor who provided transport services for workers from a certain company.

She further said subsequent to that, a couple of transactions were made to the suspect's bank account by the subcontractor who was later threatened by Katong after the contractor failed to make further payments.

Mnisi added that Katong's son, who is employed as the Community Liaison Officer (CLO), helped his mother by facilitating the process of removing the subcontractor's taxis from the project by making false presentations to the site manager whose staff was transported by the subcontractor.

Both suspects were arrested with the assistance of Kuruman Tactical Response Team.

OFM News