The Free State Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's (Hawks) spokesperson, Christopher Singo, says that the 49-year-old Mamba, 46-year-old Vincent Mkhefa, and 52-year-old Caroline Nketu were convicted for fraud, money laundering, and contravening the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act.

“The matter was reported to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, or the Hawks, in Bloemfontein for further investigations, which culminated in the arrest of the trio on Friday 19 July 2019. They appeared in court several times until their recent conviction on Monday 20 September 2021. The case has been postponed to Tuesday 7 December 2021 for sentencing,” said Singo.

Meanwhile, Singo told OFM News that the conviction of the trio started in 2011 when a whistleblower reported that alleged tender fraud and corruption was committed in the Nketoane Local Municipality. He says allegations of fraud were made regarding the installation of equipment in the parks, where incorrect procurement procedures were followed. He further stated that Mamba also alleged Mkhefa, who was the former CFO, authorised two payments of services that were not rendered by Nketu, for which Nketu quoted R198 500 and R165 600. Singo says that it was also discovered that Nketu had paid R1000 on two different occasions to Mamba. As a result of fraudulent activities, the municipality suffered a loss of more than R364 000.

OFM News