The Hawks’ National Clean Audit Task Team has arrested a 53-year-old Dihlabeng Municipality manager and a security company owner (51), this morning, they are both expected to appear in the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court for fraud and corruption today.
It is alleged that between August 2016 and November 2018, accounting officers and other officials from Dihlabeng Municipality and Moqhaka Local Municipality influenced the tender processes for their own gain.
Chief amongst this appointees was a company called “Zero Tolerance” for the purpose of rendering protection and security services to the Dihlabeng Municipality and the same entity was later unduly appointed to render similar services at Moqhaka Local Municipality.
These services were allegedly procured without following the correct supply chain management processes in terms of Municipal Finance Management Act, which resulted in irregular appointments, unauthorised, wasteful and fruitless expenditure amounting to over R35 million.
More arrests are expected as the task team continue with its interventions to rid Municipalities of maladministration, fraud and corruption.