Municipal spokesperson, Sello Pietersen, commends the Hawks for the apprehension of the suspects as a result of their dismissal in the wake of disciplinary hearings. He notes that the suspects also lost their appeals in the labour court in Johannesburg. Pietersen adds that the municipality conducted internal investigations alongside private forensic investigators in aid of resolving the irregular expenditure.

OFM News previously reported that former employees of the municipality had been arrested following the defrauding of the municipality of R1.6m for periods dating back to 2011.

“Unfortunately we don't determine the process of [policing and prosecution], suffice to say we have reported the matters as required by law. We believe the law should take its cause and justice should prevail,” Pietersen.

According to Hawks provincial spokesperson, Nomthandazo Mnisi, three more suspects had recently been arrested subsequent to six suspects who had been arrested in Kuruman and Kimberley on Wednesday in connection with these charges.

Mnisi says the suspects allegedly created ghost workers between 2011 and 2016 on the Sol Plaatje database, whose bank accounts were occasionally used for monetary transactions between the municipality and the workers.

Furthermore, Pietersen emphasises that protecting the municipality against any employees with fraudulent intentions is of top priority.

He said, ”we applaud law enforcement for bringing these cases before the open court and in the same matter, would like to see all matters reported all concluded.”

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Lee Simmons