Central SA
Maluti-a-Phofung MMC voluntarily resigns after fraud and corruption charges─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:24 Fri, 15 Aug 2025
A Maluti-a-Phofung mayoral committee member has voluntarily resigned from her role after charges of fraud and corruption.
Mary Crockett, a ward 28 councilor, is facing three counts of fraud and two counts of corruption after she allegedly sold land to a community member, failed to transfer ownership, and defrauded the buyer of R70,000. Crockett will appear again in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 1 September.
She was granted R10,000 bail on condition that she reports to the Phuthaditjhaba police station every Monday, and her passport was confiscated. She was arrested on Saturday, 2 August, following accusations of selling government houses and vacant sites in the area.
She made her first appearance in the same court two days later, when her bail application was denied. Crockett was formally charged with five counts: three counts of fraud and two counts of corruption at the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court.
“I can confirm that Cllr Mary Crockett, who has been charged with fraud, has voluntarily stepped aside and resigned as a member of the mayoral committee responsible for social development in the MaP municipality,” said Thabo Mofutsanyana ANC spokesperson King Mokoena. “But she will still remain a councillor in ward 28, and that means she can still draw her salary from the municipality in her capacity as a ward councillor.”
The DA in MaP committed to closely monitoring the legal proceedings against ANC Cllr Mary Crockett and Member of the Mayoral Committee for social development, “We will monitor the court proceedings until the matter is fully resolved,” said MaP DA Cllr Ana Motaung.
The ANC warned that this is a clear message to those who engage in corruption and criminality within its government structures that they will be held accountable. The party further condemned any abuse of power and criminal conduct by any of its members, councillors, or officials.
“The ANC remains committed to the rule of law and will continue to uphold the principles of justice and fairness,” said Thabo Mofutsanyana regional secretary Mojalefa Mohapi. “We believe in the principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and we are confident that Cde Mary Crockett will cooperate fully with the legal processes.
It is based on this that we urge all members of the public to allow legal processes to unfold with prejudice.”
