Hawks pounce on SDM’s corrupt officials

SEKHUKHUNE

A former chief financial officer (CFO) and two senior administration officers at Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), and two accomplices have been arrested by the Limpopo Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation members for alleged fraud.
It is alleged that in 2018 the SDM awarded tenders worth over R5m to various companies to provide security services.
“It is further alleged that the
former municipal CFO and two senior administration officers connived with other companies that never rendered any services. They deposited money into the other companies’ bank accounts that was later shared among themselves. As a result, the companies that actually rendered the services did not receive their payments,” said the Limpopo Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke.
He said the matter was reported to
the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.
“On September 28, a take-down operation was conducted in Groblersdal that resulted in the arrest of the former municipal official, Andries Mokgotho (45) and two service providers, Bongani Masupye (34) and Shivhadana Murovhi (39).”
During the operation another senior administration officer, Kedibone Magagane, handed herself over to the Hawks on Friday morning.
The accused (Mokgotho, Masopye and Murovhi) appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on Friday. They were charged with fraud and theft, and remanded in custody until Wednesday (October 4) for a formal bail application. Magagane appeared in the same court on similar charges on Monday, she was also expected to join her co-accused in court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the former CFO (42) handed himself over to the Hawks on Monday. He was soon  expected to make his first appearance. The group was expected to all apply for bail on Wednesday. The outcome was unknown at the time of going to press.