Former municipal service provider Janitha van Reenen, 25, was arrested on Thursday following investigations by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team into an alleged syndicate accused of defrauding the municipality of approximately R9.9m. Van Reenen was re-arrested shortly after being released on R10,000 bail in an unrelated matter.

Police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe said investigations had identified the suspect as the apparent mastermind behind an alleged network involved in illegal electricity connections and the theft and damage of critical infrastructure. She faces charges of theft, damage to and theft of critical infrastructure, and money laundering.

Van Reenen joins seven other suspects who were previously arrested in connection with the alleged syndicate. They are David Senekal, 31, Caroline Maduna, 39, Kenneth Mahobe, 35, Hlawutelo Baloyi, 29, Pule Masilo, 36, Andries Maduna, 48, and Sibusiso Tshabalala, 46.

The accused are Emfuleni officials and subcontractors working for the municipality. The seven initial suspects were arrested on Friday, 21 August, and Saturday, 22 August, and appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court for bail proceedings. Their applications are expected to continue on Monday (7/9).

It is alleged that the syndicate targeted businesses and individuals whose electricity supply had been disconnected because of outstanding municipal accounts. The accused allegedly offered to restore electricity in exchange for payment. They would then allegedly reconnect the electricity illegally and manipulate municipal records to show reduced amounts owed.

The records would allegedly later revert to the original outstanding balances, while the electricity supply remained connected through the illegal reconnection. The matter was reported to the municipality by complainants, prompting an internal investigation before it was referred to the police.

In another case, Van Reenen faces a charge involving about R424,000 that she allegedly defrauded from Emfuleni municipality. According to the state, Van Reenen allegedly misrepresented herself as an independent agent capable of assisting residents in obtaining discounts on outstanding municipal accounts.

It is alleged that victims paid her money to make discounted payments to the municipality on their behalf. However, the funds were allegedly never paid over to the municipality. The alleged fraud was uncovered by the late municipal accountant, Martha Mani Rantsofu, who identified suspicious claims and reported the matter to her manager.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm

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