Hawks arrested former EMLM Municipal Manager for fraud and corruption
Groblersdal
Former Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality EMLM Municipal Manager, Minah Maredi (60), was on Tuesday 19 December 2023, arrested by the Polokwane based Hawks’ Serous Corruption Investigation Unit for alleged fraud and corruption.
According to Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, Hawks Spokesperson in Limpopo, Maredi was arrested in connection with fraud and corruption cases committed during May 2017, where she allegedly failed to prevent irregular expenditure at the municipality by appointing a consulting company to render auditing services in the EMLM without complying with Municipal Finance Management Act, which as a result the municipality suffered a loss of more that R686 000-00.
“The matter was reported to the Hawks for assistance. The allegations were thoroughly investigated by the Hawks, subsequent to that, the warrant to arrest the suspect was applied and authorized,” explained Mmuroa.
He said Maredi was traced and arrested at Ramogwerane Village outside Groblersdal and she made her first appearance before the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on 20 December 2023, facing charges of fraud and corruption. She was granted a R20 000-00 bail and will appear again on 1 February 2024.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, Major General Gopz Govender, has applauded the team for the sterling job.
The general has also warned government officials that if they are going to involve themselves in fraud and corruption activities Hawks will be after them.
During November 2022 in a separate incident, Maredi was arrested along with then Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) Cllr Julia Mathebe in connection with illegal investment with the liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.
The duo was granted R30 000 bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. At the time when the alleged unlawful investment was made, Mathebe was the mayor of EMLM while Maredi was municipal manager, which according to the Treasury Department; municipalities were not allowed to invest with the mutual banks.
The former municipal manager, Maredi, has alleged to have been instrumental in investing R190 Million municipal funds into the VBS Mutual Bank, wherein, the former mayor, Mathebe, received over R300 000 in gratifications which included cash, accommodation and flight tickets.
He Hawks said the irregularities were channelled through a company belonging to the executive mayor’s children.
