Thabang Sayner (30), the former driver to the Mayor at Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality in Christiana and Nthabiseng Yvonne Thabethe (48), vehicle rental service provider, appeared in the Christiana Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 22 August 2025, on charges of corruption.
Their court appearance emanates from a fraud and contravention of Municipal Finance Management Act case linked to the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Hendrick Thokoane. Thokoane was arrested in November 2024 by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation on allegations of procuring vehicle rental service for the mayor, between April 2022 to May 2022, without following proper supply chain processes. This was reportedly done without the approval of the municipal manager, resulting into the municipality suffering a loss of over R167 000.
Sayner, who was the driver to the mayor of Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality, allegedly received gratification of over R100 000 from the service provider to influence the awarding of car rental service tender. Following an investigation, Syner and Thabethe were arrested on Thursday, 21 August 2025 and Friday, 22 August 2025, respectively.
The accused appeared in court and were granted bail. Sayner was granted R2000 bail and Thabethe was granted R5000. Their matter was postponed to 29 October 2025 for first appearance at the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Christiana.
