The DA in North West said it will monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the Zondo Commission’s Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture in the province.

This follows several arrests of government officials regarding cases of fraud and corruption in the province. DA caucus leader in the Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile, told OFM News the party is also monitoring if arrests will be affected in a case where R54 million was spent on an abandoned housing project in Mahikeng.

Acting Premier Nono Maloyi was MEC of Local Government and Human Settlements (Cogta) when over R54 million was spent on the abandoned project. The money was never accounted for and no one's been arrested. 

“We will monitor all these cases together with the implementation of the Zondo Commission's recommendations affecting the North West and the Special Investigating Unit reports that have been taken out against the province,” Sonakile said.

In 2022, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo, said the province was one of the provinces hardest hit by public sector corruption.

At the time, Makhari-Sekhaolelo said the province was focusing on more than 50 criminal cases involving the theft of public money.

“There are 17 cases enrolled in court, involving 19 people – including a former head of department, three former municipal managers and a mayor. The cases relate to public funds amounting to R53.5 million, and most of the charges relate to fraud and corruption. 

"Thirteen of the cases have already been finalised by the National Prosecuting Authority resulting in five convictions on charges relating to over R2 billion. There have been two acquittals and eight cases have been withdrawn.” 

Patrick Shikwane was arrested by the Hawks. Photo supplied

OFM News previously reported that a repeat offender Patrick Shikwane is implicated in a massive looting of government funds wherein he is accused of spending R2 million on two laptops, R10 million on an Events Management Company that doesn’t have an address, R359,000 on lunch and transport for councillors to attend a one-day ward committee meeting, and R299,000 for 60 food parcels.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee at the Legislature, Job Dliso, previously told OFM News the committee intends to call the Office of the Premier, which is currently being occupied by acting premier, Nono Maloyi, to appear before the committee.

Dliso said they want the Office of the Premier to give an update on several cases registered with law enforcement agencies, in which millions of rands were allegedly looted by officials and service providers over several years.

OFM News